On Wednesday, 22 public health and consumer organizations questioned India′s Food Safety and Standards Authority on its rationale behind star labeling ultra-processed food. The organizations claimed the health star labeling to be misleading and confusing for the consumers rather than providing a clear nutritional value.

According to the star rating, the more the star rating, the healthier the food product. Front-of-pack health star labeling provides half a star to five stars to indicate the nutritional profile of food products. The processed food industry is happy with the new guideline changes, however, the public and consumers want a mandatory warning on the unhealthy ultra-processed food packaging containing high salt, sugar, or fat contents. 

Dr. Remesh Kumar, Head of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics stated that the scientific evidence mandates the warning labels despite the food industry’s amiability to star labeling in unhealthy food packets. Vandana Prasad, Public Health Resource Network stated that the warning label will affect the consumption behavior of the customer toward a healthy diet. However, the FSSAI has announced the acceptance of star rating in draft regulations for food package labeling.

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/experts-fssais-health-stars-on-food-packs-will-mislead-people/91331039 )