(a) whether the World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the Government
to raise awareness about the need to reduce the per capita consumption
of salt and sugar in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether the Government is proposing to issue directions to various companies engaged in manufacturing of food products in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) & (b): Yes. The Fifty-fifth World Health Assembly called on WHO to
develop a global strategy on diet, physical activity and health (WHA55.23).
The overall goal of the Global Strategy on diet, Physical Activity is to
promote and protect health by guiding the development of an enabling
environment for sustainable actions at individual, community, national
and global levels which, when taken together, will lead to reduced
disease and death rates related to unhealthy dietary patterns and
physical inactivity.WHO has urged guidance from the Member States
on the formulation of guidelines, norms, standards and other
policy-related measures and to identify and disseminate information
on evidence-based interventions, policies and structures that are
effective in promoting, among other aspects, health diets in
countries and communities. Guidance on reduction in salt consumption
by the population and individuals is an example.
(c) & (d): Under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer,
Diabetes, CVD and Stroke (NPCDCS), no such actions have been taken so far.