India, May 9 -- Advisory cautions against 'sugar-free' foods, protein powder; urges consumers to read detailed information on packaging

T he recently released dietary guidelines by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) warned that the information presented on packaged food can be misleading.

"Health claims on packaged food are designed to catch the consumer's attention and convince them that the product is healthy," the guidelines drafted with the help of the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) informed.

A notable example in the advisory was 'sugar-free foods' associated with low calories, preferred by diabetics or people watching their weight. The document titled Dietary Guidelines for India 2024 released May 8, 2024 warned:...