A perception survey of citizens on their understanding of the plastic pollution issue; the presence of recycling labels on food packaging; and their readiness to switch purchasing patterns if such information (recycling labels) was clearly provided
A survey form to record the quality of recycling labels provided on the plastic packaging used for food products in Tamil Nadu. The form was administered through the open access app, KoboToolBox.
A CAG study in 5 cities in Tamil Nadu on compliance of plastic packaging used for food products with recycling labelling as required by BIS. The study also seeks to understand if the information provided is accessible and useful to consumers through a perception survey. The study found that recycling labels rarely provide all the information required as per law and that most of them are hard to locate, read, and understand. Consumers cannot make an informed choice unless a standard labelling mechanism is set up that is focussed on providing information in an appropriate manner.
A CAG study to assess the status of the single-use plastic ban, two years after it came into force. The study looked at f&b outlets, fruit and vegetable markets and shops across Chennai to document the prevalence of single-use plastic. The study found that single-use plastic continues to be abundant across sectors.
This report serves as the principal reference document on various aspects of accidents and suicide in the country.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been taking multiple initiatives including those related to vehicular and road engineering as well as educational measures for raising awareness in the field of Road Safety.
World Health Organisation (WHO) states that the Front of Pack Labelling (FoPL) is a crucial policy tool for nations to provide healthier food options for citizens, and provides guiding principles and framework manual on FoPL for various regions, including the Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) for the South East Asia region. NPMs define whether a food product has excessive levels of sugar, salt and fats and state what the threshold is for each nutrient of concern. NPMs can either follow a regional WHO format or be decided by experts (who are free of conflicts of interest) in the country, based on the country’s nutrition guidelines/diet. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposed draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 introducing the FoPL for packed food in India. FSSAI adopted the scientific, evidence-based WHO SEARO NPM, which was not accepted by the industry. Later, in 2019, FSSAI developed a modified set of thresholds – a study done and validated based on the Indian context and environment. This was also more in line with the WHO SEARO model. However, the industry was reluctant to consider this as their argument was that Indian consumers preferred food high on sugar, salt and fat and they would lose business if the thresholds were low. FSSAI has referred this to a Working group.
Healthy food and nourishment are key for a healthy life. However, changing lifestyles has modified the dietary patterns with an increase in the consumption of processed and ultra processed food that are high on sugar, salt and fats. This in turn has led to an alarming increase in non - communicable diseases (NCD), resulting in thousands of people losing their lives every year. Considering the seriousness of the issue, the World Health Organisation (WHO), has suggested reduction in the daily intake of fats, sugar and salt - reducing saturated fats to less than 10% of total energy intake; reducing trans-fats to less than 1% of total energy intake; reducing salt intake to less than 5 g per day ( could prevent 1.7 million deaths each year) and; reducing sugar intake to 5% of total energy intake (will protect humans from NCDs like stroke, heart attacks and hypertension). The FSSAI campaign “ Aaj se thoda cum” is also aimed at educating consumers on the importance of reducing intake of sugar, salt and fats.
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Consumer Protection is one of CAG's core areas of work and as part of our efforts to educate and inform consumers on various consumer issues and related happenings, including our own activities, we publish "Consumer Update", a bi-monthly e-newsletter.
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