If you have ever wondered whether the packaged food you are buying has some nutritive value or is just plain calories, help is at hand. A Government order will soon make it mandatory for packaged food items to display their calorific value.Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss says such an order is “being drafted and will be notified in a month’s time”.Ministry officials said canned and/or packaged raw and processed food as well as all bottled items including juices and carbonated drinks will have to display calorific value. “So far only ingredients are mentioned on the labels. But now the food items will have to have full break-up of the nutrients and calorific value,” Ramadoss said. The percentages of fats, carbohydrates, proteins and other nutrients will have to be listed on the labels.The minister said the move follows a recommendation from the Central Committee for Food Standards and will help ensure that packaged food is safe.The Centre has also prepared a Food Safety and Standards Bill, 2005 as an “integrated food law” to ensure that packaged food reaching consumers has passed through food safety management systems and adheres to the highest standards.The steps have been taken following a PIL alleging that Coke and Pepsi are violating the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
