World Health Day 2021

Every year April 7 marks the celebration of World Health Day. From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the day is aimed at creating health awareness on various critical issues. 

Over the past several years, Consumer VOICE has been relentlessly working on critical health areas – from harmful effects of tobacco consumption to health hazards related to transfats. 

With Covid-19 hitting us badly, it is important ’for us as consumers to take care of our health both as a curative measure and preventive measure’ as rightly pointed out by Mr Ashim Sanyal, Consumer VOICE.

This World Health Day therefore serves as a reminder for all of us to avoid unhealthy foods, foods that are high in sugar, salt and fats which are actually a major cause of non-communicable diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension have crept quietly in our lives and are here to stay. It is therefore imperative for us to know about the nutritional content of ultra-processed foods that are highly loaded with HSSF (High Salt Sugar Fat) components and have fewer foods contributing to a ‘balanced diet’.  This can be possible to a certain extent with Front of Pack Labeling. Globally many countries have already implemented the  Front of Pack Labeling  system and studies have proved that they are effective in the reduction of consumption of HSSF foods. consumers taste buds will also have to change but it’s better than suffering from non-communicable diseases than to indulge in such food habits. This article of Consumer VOICE COO is a reassertion of  FSSAI’s slogan “Thoda Kam” which should remind us that as consumers, we need to be a part of the harm reduction process as mere regulations will not solve the problem.