ON May 8, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) released 17 dietary guidelines to meet the requirements of essential nutrients and prevent non-communicable diseases such as obesity and diabetes. The report was driven by the National Institute of Nutrition, which works under the ICMR umbrella. Outlining that almost 56 per cent of illness in India is caused by unhealthy diets, the regulatory body also advised against “regular basis” consumption of protein supplements outfling that protein powders may contain added sugars, noncaloric sweeteners and additives such as artificial flavouring, hence, are not advisable to be consumed regularly.
The protein market in India is anticipated to grow from a $100-million business to a $130-million industry by the end of the decade, growing at an annual rate of over 5. 5 per cent. Such is the lure of this market that even the likes of Amul have joined the bandwagon offering a wide variety of high-protein products. Jayen Mehta, MD of Amul, was quoted in the Economic Times as saying, “While initial consumers were mainly gym-goers, now a wider demographic, including mothers, is embracing protein products. Amul’s website receives orders from diverse locations, including Assam, the Andamans, and small towns in Uttarakhand.”
Substandard material
Health journal Medicine analysed 36 protein supplements and found that there was an alarming number of inaccuracies and substandard material in many of them. For example, 36 supplements had protein information that was incorrect to the amount of protein that was on offer. Almost 14 per cent of the samples had harmful fungal mix and around 8 per cent had pesticide residue traces.
The Print in a report on the findings said: “Of the 36 products, nine had less than 40 per cent detected protein content, while the rest had above 60 per cent. Overall, 25 protein supplements (69.4 per cent) were mislabelled about protein content; that is, the protein content per 100g detected in the analysis was less than what was advertised on the product, featuring less than 10 per cent to more than 50 per cent deficit. Two products from one manufacturer had 62 per cent and 50.4 per cent lower protein content while a commonly prescribed protein from a well-reputed company also mislabelled protein content of approximately 30 per cent deficit than advertised.” The response of the manufacturers was muted.
Late reaction
Like the proverbial police inspector in Hindi films, who arrives in the last frame after the hero has sorted out the villain, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released a stringent set of regulations on protein supplements. After multiple studies rang the alarm bells, the regulations were triggered. A study conducted by FSSAI, too, found that dozens of protein powders and supplements sold online and in stores were full of false claims.
The FSSAI’s new regulations will address many of the issues highlighted by the study. There will be, for example, mandatory testing for elements like heavy metals and microbes to ensure product safety. Apart from this, the new diktat mandates accurate labelling that would require manufacturers to provide specific information about protein content and ingredients while warning of allergens, and advising recommended dosages.
Lack of uniformity
In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on the action taken by the Government against the sale of unsafe dietary supplements and protein powders in the country, Union Health Minister had said, more than 40,000 cases were filed in 2022-23 against samples of unsafe protein powders and dietary supplements sold in the market that did not meet the food safety standards. One of the issues is the lack of uniformity in the regulatory process with the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, mandating that the quality checks and controls lie with the state Governments and Union Territory Governments. It is so unequal and mired in so much corruption that it is no surprise that there are so many cases of poor quality dietary supplements.
Another reason why there is such a huge demand for protein supplements is because of the challenge of ensuring adequate protein intake. The average intake of protein per person per day across the subcontinent is under 50 grams/per kilo weight, which is woefully less than the close to 90 grams that is recommended consumption at 47 grams per person per day, lower than other Asian countries and developed nations.
