‘Oil and sugar boards’ now coming up at all govt offices, hospitals, public spaces and more

Oil and sugar boards showing calorie content in common food items will soon be installed in government offices, hospitals, airports and railway stations. The NIN-led initiative aims to raise public awareness on healthy eating and reduce lifestyle diseases

Hyderabad: The novel initiative of showcasing the total calories in sugar and oil within various food and other consumable items, through ‘oil and sugar boards’ prepared by Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in collaboration with other national research institutions, is set to become a standard feature in government offices, railway stations, airports and even Central and State-run government hospitals.

Following directives from the union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), through NIN and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has come out with ‘oil and sugar boards’ and even ideal daily dietary recommendations, which will be put up at strategic locations.

The innovative behavioural change strategy, wherein the calories, the amount of sugar and oil content in a ‘samosa’, ‘pizza’, ‘katchori’ or even a soft drink and fries, if made visible to the general public on a daily basis, would go a long way in promoting healthy eating and avoiding unnecessary calories.

The stress is on creating visually engaging displays that will show sugar and oil content in commonly consumed foods and beverages, especially junk food, processed snacks and sugary drinks. The signboards will also come up with healthy suggestions and better dietary alternatives, all prepared by the NIN.

These efforts are part of the broader initiatives to promote public health and address lifestyle diseases by increasing awareness about what people are consuming. Highlighting the calories in oil and sugar is directly seen as a solution for overweight and obesity, which have become major drivers for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular ailments, uncontrolled hypertension and chronic diabetes and kidney ailments.

In fact, in its recent policy briefing, the ICMR-NIN, along with several other research organisations, has recommended a comprehensive social behaviour change communication strategy targeting key drivers of obesity at all levels, which will go a long way in preventing overweight and obesity among Indians.