HEALTH STAR RATING SYSTEM
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Context - The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is in the process of releasing draft regulations for the Health Star Rating System.
Details
- The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plans to adopt a new “Health Star Rating” system in order to help consumers to reduce their intake of unhealthy foods.
- Some experts have raised concerns over the new system and also criticised it by highlighting it as a “not evidence-based” System.
- They also claimed that “warning labels” instead of a rating system are the most effective strategies in various countries.
- In February 2022, the FSSAI has decided to adopt the new “Health-Star Rating System”.
- It rates a product from 1/2 a star to 5 stars.
- The decision to adopt a new rating system was based on the recommendations of a study by the IIM Ahmedabad.
- These experts have said the Health Star Rating (HSR) system adopted in countries like Australia and New Zealand has not resulted in any meaningful behaviour change.
- Experts have suggested the implementation of “front-of-package” warning labels as “the most effective models to date in informing consumers of the nutritional quality of packaged products”.
Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
- It is a statutory body that works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- It is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food
- Power and Responsibilities of FSSAI;
- It Formulates the Regulations to lay down food safety standards.
- It prepares guidelines for the accreditation of laboratories for food testing.
- It provides scientific advice and technical support to the Government.
- Collecting data regarding food consumption, contamination, emerging risks, etc.
- Promoting awareness about food safety and nutrition in India.
- Lay down science-based standards for articles on food.
- Regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution, import, and sale of food.
- To promote food safety.
- The Chairman of FSSAI is appointed by the Central Government.
- The FSSAI has its headquarters in New Delhi.
- The authority also has 6 regional offices located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Chennai.
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