According to ICMR, labels may be deceptive: “Foods without added sugar may contain sugars.”

In a recent set of guidelines, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) warned that food labels may include misleading information and advised consumers to study them carefully and make educated judgements.

“The purpose of health claims on packaged foods is to draw in customers and persuade them that the food is nutritious. The information on labels may be deceptive, even with the stringent regulations enforced by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), according to the ICMR.

In its guidelines, the ICMR noted that food products with a sugar-free label may include hidden sugars, refined grains, and fats even though they are thought to be good for diabetics and weight-watchers.

The apex body stated, “These would imply high glycaemic index and high calories in the food item.”

The phrase “no cholesterol in oil” may be deceptive.
Heart-friendly or no-cholesterol labels may also be deceptive because, according to ICMR standards, all plant-based oils are 100% fat and should only be consumed in moderation. No plant-based oil is known to contain cholesterol.

Is that fruit real or is it sugar-coated?
Breaking the illusion about real fruit or fruit juice labels, the ICMR stated that aside from added sugar and additives, a product claiming to have real fruit may only contain 10% actual fruit pulp.

“Any food item that even slightly contains fruit—for instance, fruit juices that have only 10 percent or less of fruit added—is permitted to claim on its label that it is prepared with real fruit pulp or juice, as per the FSSAI guideline. However, the product that says it contains real fruit might only contain 10% real pulp and additional additives, according to the standards.

How should a food label be read?
To find out what’s in a pack of foods, it’s crucial to carefully read the food labels.

According to ICMR, a food label should have the following information: the name of the product, brand name, ingredient list, production date, use-by and expiration dates, allergen declaration, etc.

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