Key Points
A lobby group representing Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Red Bull, Dabur and Tetra Pak, among others, is of the view that recent World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on non-sugar sweeteners are "not scientifically rigorous."..
Health groups had called for 'restrictive use only' messages on all foods and drinks with artificial sweeteners...
A senior Indian Beverage Association (IBA) executive who didn't want to be named said, "It is a disservice to public health to not recognise the role of low or no-calorie sweeteners in reducing sugar intake" amid a global obesity crisis..
"WHO could only conclude a conditional recommendation, which is not scientifically rigorous, nor based on a robust evidence base," the executive said.. Other large food and beverage companies including Britannia, Paper Boat, Parle Agro, Bisleri, ITC, Mondelez and Tata NourishCo are listed as "associate members" on the beverage association's website...
"Replacing free sugars with non-sugar sweeteners does not help with weight control in the long term," Francesco Branca, WHO director for nutrition and food safety, had said in a detailed statement, adding that such sweeteners "are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value."..
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FSSAI assessing WHO red flag on sugar substitutes, labelling may dent sales of diet and no-sugar foods & d
22, May, 23India's Food Safety and Standards Authority is considering new guidelines from the World Health Organization warning non-sugar sweeteners such as stevia and aspartame can lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Soft drink, breakfast cereal, juice and ice cream makers use such sweeteners as healthy substitutes for sugar. Sales for related products, including sugar-free artificial sweeteners, could be dented by a labelling change, said industry figures.