New Delhi: Food labels on packaged foods can be misleading is what the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said in its new dietary guidelines released after 13 years. According to estimates, the disease burden in India stands at 56.4 per cent due to unhealthy eating habits. Ultra-processed and packaged foods are the leading cause of obesity and other chronic diseases. This came amid ongoing controversies such as the added sugar content in children’s food products like Bournvita and Cerelac. Behind all these incidences, one such social media influencer, Revant Himatsingka aka ‘Food Pharmer’ made the difference by using his reach. Himatsingka regularly posts about how to choose healthy food over processed foods. He rose to fame when he posted a video discussing Bournvita’s high sugar content and its impact on children’s health. Since then, the importance of reading and understanding food labels has increased. In short, we can say India’s snackers are becoming label-conscious!
According to the Healthy Snacking Report 2024, around 73 per cent of people across all age groups are scrutinising the ingredient lists and nutritional values before tossing a snack in carts. This trend is particularly strong among boomers. A staggering 78 per cent of those who are over 60 are decoding the fine print, likely prioritising health and well-being.
In an inclusive interview with News9, Revant Himatsingka AKA ‘Food Pharmer’ explained the importance of reading the food labels and the steps to read a label properly. Himatsingka said, “One common mistake that people make is that go by the front pack of a product, as a consumer, the first thing you must check is the back label to read it and understand what is inside the product. Secondly, whenever, people see the back of the product they only see the MRP or the expiry date and that’s the mistake they make.”
‘Longer the expiry date, The sooner our expiry date’
Expiration dates tell the consumers the last day a product is safe to consume. Before date on the other hand tells one that the food is no longer in its proper condition or shape. However, it does not necessarily mean that the food is no longer safe to eat. Continuing the conversation at the Indian Healthy Snacking Summit, the ‘Food Pharmer’ expressed, “There is a funny line on the expiry date that goes like, ‘Longer the expiry date, The sooner our expiry date’ because it has more preservatives. A long expiry date doesn’t mean they are a good product. Hence, do not just look at the expiry date, look at the food label and the nutritional content of it.”
Among those who do decipher the ingredient list, a staggering 93 per cent yearn for healthier options. People are not just grabbing whatever’s convenient – they are reading labels, making informed choices, and demanding better options. But how to understand the ingredient list?
Longer the ingredient list, the longer the medication list
The social media influencer in an initiative to spread awareness and educate Indians about the importance of reading food labels started a new campaign like the ‘Label Padhega India’ initiative combat false marketing claims. Through the initiative, he urges companies to provide better-quality products. According to Himatsingka, “While reading the food labels, it is imperative to read the ingredients list. They are listed in order of weight, the first ingredients are higher in volume followed by the second and then the third, ideally if a product contains sugar or maida don’t have it too often.”
“The longer the ingredient list, the longer the medication list. The shorter the ingredient list of a product usually better. For example, peanut butter with only peanuts is always better than peanuts with salt, sugar or vegetable fats,” added Himatsingka.
What to eat then?
With every passing day, a new food product makes headlines for carrying harmful chemicals that are cancerous so how to trust food choices in such conditions, and what to eat is the question. When asked what Himatsingka prefers to eat in his routine, he said, “You must focus on consuming more fruits, vegetables, nuts and products that are higher in protein. You must have things in moderation and not in excess.”
Amid ongoing controversies of Bournvita and Cerelac, one such social media influencer, Revant Himatsingka aka ‘Food Pharmer’ made a difference by using his reach and rose to fame when he posted a video discussing Bournvita’s high sugar content and its impact on children’s health. At the Indian Healthy Snacking Summit, the ‘FoodPharmer’ exclusively spoke to News9 on importance of reading labels. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
