Consumers and Manufacturers Perceptions about Nutrition Labeling in India-Proposed Labels for Indian Pickles

Food labels are an excellent avenue of communication. The modern package has assumed the responsibility of communicating the relevant information that a consumer needs to know about the product through the label besides performing its basic functions of containing and protecting. The WHO/FAO report on diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases suggested that nutrition labels are an important means of facilitating choice of and access to nutrient dense food. Cost benefit analysis suggest that the savings in the health care costs are relatively greater than the cost incurred by mandatory nutrition labeling3. In countries as USA, Australia, Canada and Brazil nutritional labeling is mandatory whereas in India it is voluntary. With the expanding local and export markets for processed foods, systematic studies on nutrition labeling may provide a much needed information base in decision making for both consumer and food industry.