Oxford University Study Finds India's Packaged Foods And Drinks To Be Unhealthy

An Oxford University study found that packaged foods and drinks In India are unhealthy due to the high levels of saturated fat, salt, and sugar present in them.

Oxford University's George Institute for Global Health analysed more than 4,00,000 food and drink products from 12 countries around the world, using Australia's Health Star Rating system to rank them.

This system works by breaking down the nutrient concentration and measures the salt, sugar, saturated fat, protein, energy, fibre, and calcium to give a star rating that ranges from ½ (unhealthy) to 5 (healthy).

According to the study published in medical journal Obesity Reviews, the UK topped the list with a rating of 2.83, followed by the US with 2.82 and Australia with 2.81. India has the lowest rating of 2.27, followed by China with 2.43 and Chile at 2.44 ^[1] .

The study mentions that China had the most harmful levels of saturated fat in their food, while their drinks were the healthiest. South Africa got a poor rating for its drinks with 1.92 and food with 2.87.

The study adds that India's packaged foods and drinks are most energy-dense (kilojoule content 1515 kJ/ 100 g). This is surely a wake-up call for India as it is estimated that by 2025, India will have over 17 million obese children.

The results surely cause concern because the packaged foods and drinks lead to diseases like obesity, heart disease etc. in many low and middle-income countries.

The study report also states that many of the world's biggest food and drink manufacturers have become members of the International Food and Beverage Alliance and pledged to reduce the levels of sugar, salt and harmful fats found in their products.

The study findings can help push the companies to work towards providing healthy products.

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