ICMR proposes new dietary guidelines to limit sugar levels

India may soon introduce its first recommended limits on sugar content in packaged foods and beverages. The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have proposed new guidelines, which could affect products like soft drinks, juices, cookies, ice-creams, and cereals. The Economic Times reports that many stakeholders in the packaged food industry find the guidelines impractical, arguing they were not consulted beforehand.

The revised guidelines, replacing 13-year-old norms, propose that solid foods should derive no more than 5% of their energy from added sugars, and not exceed 10% from total sugars. For beverages, the limits are set at 10% of energy from added sugars and a maximum of 30% from total sugars, including those naturally present in fruit juices and milk.