Updated May 28, 2024 | 10:41 PM IST
He wrote, “We Indians need to question what goes into the food we consume. The more we ask, the better choices we will have. The sugar content in most of our food is ridiculous. Adulteration in food items like masalas, milk and protein. And then there are substandard chemicals used in food colouring and preservatives in fruits and vegetables. They are all slowly killing us.”
Executives from packaged food companies, however, have expressed skepticism about the practicality of these ideas, asserting that they would require substantial adjustments to existing formulations.
The CEO of Zerodha, Nithin Kamath has expressed concerns on the quality of food that Indians consume in response to the National Institute of Nutrition’s (NIN) recommendations regarding the amount of sugar in packaged foods and beverages.
Kamath took his message to the social media platform X, where he emphasized the need to scrutinize the components in our meals and make educated decisions in order to counteract the startling amounts of sugar, adulteration, and dangerous substances present in everyday foods.
Nithin Kamath’s X post
He wrote, “We Indians need to question what goes into the food we consume. The more we ask, the better choices we will have. The sugar content in most of our food is ridiculous. Adulteration in food items like masalas, milk and protein. And then there are substandard chemicals used in food colouring and preservatives in fruits and vegetables. They are all slowly killing us. This applies to both packaged foods and food from many restaurants.”
The NIN’s new regulations are expected to have an effect on a variety of branded goods, including as juices, soft drinks, pastries, ice cream, cereals, and more. These recommendations mark a change in focus toward reducing the amount of sugar in foods and drinks, which is an essential first step in encouraging people to adopt healthier eating habits.
The decision was reached amid growing concerns about the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, as well as disagreements about the excessive sugar content of infant food Cerelac and the malted drink Bournvita on social media and in other places.
Developed by a diverse team of specialists, the updated recommendations state that the “threshold for sugar has been calculated at ~5% energy from added sugar, and not exceeding 10% energy from total sugar” for meals that are solid.
Nithin Kamath has a relevant message
Executives from packaged food companies, however, have expressed skepticism about the practicality of these ideas, asserting that they would require substantial adjustments to existing formulations.
The discrepancy arises from the perception that the guidelines would prevent even basic products from being designated as “healthy,” potentially affecting the industry as a whole.
Notwithstanding the opposition from food and beverage corporations, health advocates contend that these rules are critical to addressing the nation’s growing obesity and diabetes epidemic. The rules seek to improve openness and enable consumers to make more educated nutritional decisions by setting explicit standards for sugar levels.
While industry stakeholders and health experts continue to disagree, Nithin Kamath’s message is relevant and serves as an important call to action for Indians to closely examine the food they eat.
People can take charge of their health and wellbeing by becoming more conscious of their surroundings and actively challenging the ingredients in meals and packaged goods that are served in restaurants.
