The Push for Simpler Labels
For years, the only nutritional guide on packaged foods has been the detailed table on the back. While comprehensive, it can be dense and difficult to interpret in a hurry. To make healthy choices easier, countries worldwide are adopting Front-of-Pack
Labelling (FOPL). These systems use simple graphics, like stars or traffic lights, to give consumers a quick sense of a product's nutritional value. The goal is to highlight foods high in salt, sugar, and fat, which are linked to rising rates of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension in India. In response, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been developing its own FOPL system to help shoppers make healthier, more informed decisions at a glance.
India's Proposed Star Rating
The FSSAI's proposed solution is the Indian Nutrition Rating (INR), a system modelled after the Health Star Rating used in Australia and New Zealand. According to a 2022 draft regulation, packaged foods would be assigned a rating from a half-star (least healthy) to five stars (most healthy). The rating is calculated based on an algorithm that considers 'negative' components like energy, saturated fat, total sugar, and sodium, while also giving points for 'positive' ingredients like fruits, vegetables, millets, protein, and fibre. The idea is that a shopper can quickly compare two similar products—say, two brands of breakfast cereal—and choose the one with more stars. However, this system has faced criticism from public health experts who argue that warning labels are more effective and that adding points for 'positive' ingredients could allow unhealthy products to get a better star rating than they deserve.
The 'Per 100g' Problem
A major point of contention in the proposed INR system, and others like it, is the unit of measurement. These ratings are almost always calculated based on the nutritional content 'per 100 grams' or 'per 100 millilitres' of the product. This standardized unit is useful for comparing the formulation of different products, but it often fails to reflect real-world consumption. Consider a 300ml bottle of a sugary soft drink. The 'per 100ml' sugar content might look moderate, but most people drink the entire bottle, consuming three times that amount. Similarly, a small bag of chips is often consumed in one sitting, but the 'per 100g' information might refer to a much larger quantity, making the snack appear healthier than it is. This discrepancy between the reference amount and a typical serving size can mislead consumers.
Why 'Per Serving' Matters
This is where the demand for serving size information comes in. Consumer advocates and health experts argue that for a label to be truly useful, it must provide information that reflects how people actually eat. Displaying the nutritional values for a single, clearly defined serving gives a much more practical and honest picture of what you are about to consume. For example, knowing a single biscuit contains a certain amount of sugar is more direct and actionable than trying to calculate it from a 'per 100g' value. The confusion around serving sizes is a well-documented issue, and clear 'per serving' data helps cut through it. It grounds the nutritional information in the reality of a single eating occasion, which is how most people think about their food intake.
The Best of Both Worlds
The ideal solution, as the headline suggests, isn't to replace one system with the other, but to combine them. A truly consumer-friendly label would feature the easy-to-understand star rating (or another FOPL symbol) while also clearly stating the nutritional information for both 'per 100g' and 'per serving'. The 'per 100g' value allows for an objective, like-for-like comparison between different products on the shelf. The 'per serving' value provides immediate, practical context about the impact of eating a typical portion. Displaying both numbers would empower consumers with all the information they need: a quick guide for comparison and a realistic measure for consumption. This dual approach bridges the gap between scientific standardisation and practical, everyday use, making food labels a more effective tool for public health.
