SUGAR BOARDS
1. Context
In order to check the sugar intake of school-going children, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has instructed over 24,000 affiliated schools across India to establish ‘sugar boards’, where information is displayed for educating students about the risks of excessive sugar intake
2. What are Sugar boards?
‘Sugar boards’ provide essential information, including recommended sugar intake, the sugar content in commonly consumed foods (such as junk food and cold drinks), health risks associated with high sugar consumption and healthier dietary alternatives
"Sugar boards" are educational visual displays designed to raise awareness—especially among school children—about the high sugar content in processed drinks and foods. These boards typically:
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Show common packaged beverages like sodas and fruit juices.
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Display the equivalent number of sugar packets or teaspoons next to each item.
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Include information on daily recommended sugar intake.
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Highlight the health risks of excessive sugar consumption.
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Offer suggestions for healthier food and drink alternatives
3. Necessity of sugar boards
- The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has recommended that all schools across the country, not just those affiliated with the CBSE, implement 'sugar boards'. This includes institutions under various State education boards.
- In a letter sent to the CBSE in March this year, the NCPCR highlighted a troubling rise in Type 2 Diabetes among children—an illness traditionally associated with adults—over the last ten years.
- The commission attributed this rise to increased sugar consumption, largely due to the easy access to sugary snacks, drinks, and processed foods in and around school premises.
- Although India lacks comprehensive nationwide data on the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in children and teenagers, estimates suggest about 397 cases per 100,000 individuals in this age group, with only China reporting higher numbers at 734 per 100,000.
4. India's regulations
- At present, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) enforces regulations for food brands that make specific nutritional claims. For example, a product can only be labeled as "low sugar" if it contains no more than 5 grams of sugar per 100 grams.
- However, an official noted that while such labeling standards exist, FSSAI has not yet established specific thresholds for high fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) consumption tailored to the Indian population.
- Instead, India currently follows the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, which advise limiting sugar intake to 25 grams—or about six teaspoons—per day for both adults and children.
- Experts believe India needs to establish its own guidelines, developed from domestic research, due to the higher risk of heart disease among Indians linked to genetic predispositions.
- They stress the importance of gathering comprehensive epidemiological data through a nationwide study that tracks dietary habits and factors such as BMI, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol levels, and other health indicators.
- Despite ongoing discussions, FSSAI has yet to define HFSS criteria or finalize the health-star rating system for front-of-package labeling. During a recent meeting, stakeholders were unable to agree on what constitutes HFSS in school meals.
- It was concluded that the definition for school meals should align with that used for packaged food, and that a unified, comprehensive definition for HFSS is necessary
5. Way forward
The NCPCR is in the process of collecting data on childhood diabetes cases from public hospitals. Efforts are also being made to engage with parents during parent-teacher meetings to emphasize the value of nutritious eating habits. In addition, discussions have been held with pediatricians, who will be invited to conduct workshops and awareness sessions in schools. The launch of ‘sugar boards’ marks just the initial step in this broader health initiative
Source: The Hindu
