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Today, lakhs of parents in the country are feeding health drinks to their children for better growth, for which companies also claim that these powders are making children taller, stronger and smarter, but Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal termed these as false and misleading claims and not only raised the issue in the House. Raised, rather demanded strict action against the companies and accurate labeling.
Health Drinks side effects for children: Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal raised the issue of health powders sold in the market with claims of making children taller, stronger and smarter in the House today. He said that the issue of misleading food advertisements spreading across the country is very serious. Through false claims, companies are selling such products as healthy, which are actually full of sugar, flour, preservatives and harmful oils.
Swati Maliwal said in the House that it is claimed that chocolate health drink makes children taller-stronger-smarter but the truth is that 100 grams of powder contains 40 grams of sugar. Every mother is giving sugar solution to her child thinking it is a health drink. This is a direct case of misleading the public.
Citing several products in the House, Swati told that atta noodles are filled with flour, inside which is flour and palm oil. Fresh ketchup may sound fresh but inside it is filled with a mixture of preservatives, sugar and oil. Fresh juice contains sugar and colors instead of fruits. Iced tea contains 90 percent sugar and only 2 percent tea. Cashew biscuits contain 0.9 percent cashews. Whereas every scoop of protein powders made for senior citizens contains 9 grams of sugar.
Swati said that due to these false claims, crores of Indians are eating the same things considering them healthy, which are gradually giving rise to serious lifestyle diseases like diabetes, heart disease, childhood obesity and high BP.
Objection also expressed on pan masala advertisements
Swati Maliwal said that pan masala companies are also adopting the same technology. In the advertisements it is said that the packet contains saffron and silver. Celebrities promote these products by charging crores of rupees, while they themselves do not even touch them. This deception is increasing the rate of mouth cancer in the country. This is a direct betrayal of the health of the countrymen.
The MP made these demands from the House
Clear, large and easy labeling of sugar, chemicals and palm oil should be made mandatory on every food package,
Big health warnings should be placed on high sugar and ultra processed food products like cigarette packets,
Strict punitive action should be taken against companies and their celebrity endorsers on false and misleading advertisements,
Because this is not just a health issue but it is a question of India’s future. The government will have to take immediate decisive steps.
