ACCESS TO NUTRITION – REPORT

ACCESS TO NUTRITION – REPORT

NEWS: A report by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) reveals that leading food and beverage companies generally offer less healthy products in low-and-middle income countries compared to high-income countries.

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

Overview of ATNi Report Findings

  • Report Source: Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi), a global non-profit foundation.
  • Scope: Analysis of 30 leading global Food & Beverage (F&B) companies, covering 23% of the global F&B market.
  • Assessment Metrics: Evaluated 52,414 products from brands like Nestle, PepsiCo, Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Hershey.
  • Health Rating System:
    • Rating Scale: Products scored out of 5 stars, with a score above 3.5 indicating a healthier option.
    • Criteria: Considered components increasing health risk (energy, saturated fat, total sugars, sodium) against beneficial components (protein, fiber, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes).

Key Findings of the Report

  • Health Disparity:

·         Products in Low-and-Middle Income Countries (LMICs) scored 1.8 on average.

·         Products in High-Income Countries (HICs) had a higher average score of 2.3.

  • Pricing Strategy:

·         Only 30% of companies have strategies to make healthier products affordable for low-income consumers.

  • Data Gaps:

·         Nutritional information, especially on micronutrients, was less available for products in LMICs compared to HICs.

Past Findings of Similar Nature

  • Previous Reports:
    • An April report by Swiss NGO, Public Eye, and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) noted that Nestle's baby food in LMICs had higher sugar content than those sold in Europe.
    • Nestle's Response: Denied the findings, leading to an investigation by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Significance of Findings for India

Public Health Context

  • Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs):

·         High prevalence of diabetes, with over 10.13 crore Indians affected.

·         Obesity rates stand at 24% for women and 23% for men.

  • Double Burden:

·         Simultaneous challenges of undernutrition, anaemia, and micronutrient deficiencies alongside rising obesity and diabetes.

  • Dietary Impact:

·         As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), unhealthy diets contribute to 56.4% of India’s disease burden.

·         Increased consumption of processed foods rich in sugars and fats has exacerbated the health situation.

Economic Constraints and Food Affordability

  • Affordability Challenge: Over 50% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet according to UN data.
  • Rising Processed Food Costs: Household spending on processed foods is increasing, impacting overall diet quality.

Regulatory and Labelling Issues in India

Efforts to Protect Public Health

  • WHA Resolutions: India is committed to the World Health Assembly’s resolutions against harmful food marketing to children.
  • National Multisectoral Action Plan (NMAP): Launched in 2017 to control common NCDs but showed limited progress on food labelling.

Food Labelling Initiatives

  • Push for Front-of-Package Labelling:
    • Activists have demanded clear labelling to indicate high levels of sugar, fat, and sodium.
    • A 2022 draft regulation — Food Safety and Standards (Labelling & Display) Amendment — remains stalled.
    • Success Stories:
      • In Chile and Mexico, mandatory front-of-pack labels reduced sugary drink consumption.
  • Nutrition Advocacy Concerns:
    • A study by Nutrition Advocacy for Public Interest (NAPi) found that 43 pre-packaged food products in India were high in unhealthy nutrients like saturated fat.
    • The ATNi report emphasizes the inadequacy of voluntary measures by companies, urging for mandatory labelling and stricter regulations.