December 13, 2022
Santanu Sen’s Special Mention on the need to regulate foods high in fats, salt and sugar
Sir, as per the National Family Health Survey 2019-20, the proportion of obese women in India has gone up to 24 per cent from 20.6 per cent in 2015-16 and that of obese men has increased to 22.9 per cent from 18.9 per cent in 2015-16. The relationship between obesity in adulthood and consumption of High Fat Sugar and Salt (HFSS) products has been examined and substantiated. A Centre for Science and
Environment survey with over 13,000 children (9-17 years) shows that high screen time and the related exposure to advertisements is linked with frequent consumption of packaged food, beverages and fast food. Among the children who had screen time of over two hours per day, 73 per cent consumed such foods at least once a day; this percentage was 44 per cent for those with less than two hours. Kids consuming content online or on TV along with parents makes it easier for them to influence household consumers choices. The health costs of obesity in the long term, in terms of cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes etc., can be mitigated to a great extent by regulating High Fat Salt and Sugar ads in the short term. There should be a comprehensive legally binding framework for regulation of High Fat Salt
and Sugar ads. The advertising of High Fat Salt and Sugar products needs to be regulated across various media, TV, Radio, online and even outdoors. A timeslot in the evening when children viewership is small should be reserved for High Fat Salt and Sugar advertisements and these advertisementsshould not be permitted to air during children’s programmes like cartoons and games.
