Products including Maggi noodles and Fanta soda sold in India contain significantly more sugar and additives than versions sold in the United Kingdom [1].
These disparities highlight how global food corporations adjust ingredients based on local regulations, often resulting in less healthy options for consumers in markets with looser oversight.
According to a report published Aug. 25, 2023, the Indian version of Fanta contains three times as much sugar as the version sold in the UK [2]. In London, a can of Fanta contains 63 calories [1].
The report also identified the use of an artificial dye in Indian Fanta that is restricted in other regions [2]. This specific additive would require a prominent health warning label if the product were sold in Europe [2].
Similar differences were found in Maggi noodles produced by Nestlé [1]. The report said the Indian-market versions of these products are formulated differently than those available in the UK [1].
These differences stem from varying food-additive regulations between the two regions [2]. Artificial dyes that trigger health-warning labels in Europe remain permitted for use in Indian formulations [2].
The findings follow previous efforts by Indian authorities to implement stricter labeling. India sought to place red flags on soda and chip packets to warn consumers about high levels of sugar and salt, though big food companies fought these measures [2].
“Indian Fanta contains three times as much sugar as the version sold in the UK”
This discrepancy reveals a 'double standard' in global food production, where companies like Coca-Cola and Nestlé utilize ingredients in developing markets that are deemed unsuitable or require warnings in developed markets. It underscores the critical role of national regulatory bodies in protecting public health against the lobbying efforts of multinational corporations.
