In this special SipSci Lab conversation, Dr Soumya Swaminathan — former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research, and Chairperson of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation — helps us decode the confusing world of packaged food and food labels. From “healthy”, “multigrain”, “high protein” and “baked” to “no added sugar” — what do these claims actually tell us, and when can they be misleading? We also discuss: • How an ordinary consumer should read a food label • What to check first while buying packaged food • How to identify high sugar, salt and saturated fat • What “no added sugar” really means • Why serving size matters • Whether front-of-pack warning labels can help consumers • Why simple warnings such as High Sugar, High Salt and High Fat may be easier to understand • Who is responsible when an unhealthy product is marketed as healthy — the consumer, manufacturer or regulator? • How food labels and nutrition claims are verified • The concerns around misleading food advertising • What needs to change to help consumers make healthier choices The conversation comes at an important time as India debates clearer front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods. If you buy biscuits, cereals, breads, juices, snacks, protein products or other packaged foods, this conversation may change the way you look at the packet before putting it in your shopping cart.
NehaScope 
In this special SipSci Lab conversation, Dr Soumya Swaminathan — former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research, and Chairperson of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation — helps us decode the confusing world of packaged food and food labels. From “healthy”, “multigrain”, “high protein” and “baked” to “no added sugar” — what do these claims actually tell us, and when can they be misleading? We also discuss: • How an ordinary consumer should read a food label • What to check first while buying packaged food • How to identify high sugar, salt and saturated fat • What “no added sugar” really means • Why serving size matters • Whether front-of-pack warning labels can help consumers • Why simple warnings such as High Sugar, High Salt and High Fat may be easier to understand • Who is responsible when an unhealthy product is marketed as healthy — the consumer, manufacturer or regulator? • How food labels and nutrition claims are verified • The concerns around misleading food advertising • What needs to change to help consumers make healthier choices The conversation comes at an important time as India debates clearer front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods. If you buy biscuits, cereals, breads, juices, snacks, protein products or other packaged foods, this conversation may change the way you look at the packet before putting it in your shopping cart.
Share this: