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HEALTH STAR RATING SYSTEM

6th May, 2022

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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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