'Cold Drink Tax': Expert On Why Fanta In UK Has Less Sugar Than In India
Experts attribute the lower sugar content in UK-sold Fanta compared to India to the UK's 'cold drink tax,' which incentivizes manufacturers to reduce sugar. This has sparked a debate in India regarding food labeling, health warnings, and the regulatory environment for packaged goods.
Why it matters
The disparity in product formulation highlights global differences in public health policy and the influence of taxation on corporate manufacturing practices.
Packaged food and beverage products sold in India have once again come under scrutiny after a report claimed that Fanta sold in the UK contained significantly less sugar than the version available domestically.The difference in the formulation of the product has sparked a debate on food labelling norms in the country. The Supreme Court had criticised the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) earlier this month on the issue of front-of-pack warning labels on packaged food products with high levels of sugar, salt, and saturated fats.According to Urvashi Agarwal, a food safety educator, when it comes to soft drinks like Fanta, the difference between India and the UK also exists due to factors like sugar tax and regulatory environment.Agarwal told NDTV Profit that the UK's soft drinks tax means there is a financial incentive for manufacturers to lower the amount of sugar in their beverage products."In the UK, there…
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