Food choices and the right purchase decisions are important parts of our lives where clear labeling helps us. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently updated its non-veg logo from circle to triangle. Earlier as well there was a logo, so what made FSSAI do such modification is still a question for many. This updated logo is more than just a change in design. Let’s explore the reason behind FSSAI’s decision to change the non-vegeterian logo.
Introduction to FSSAI
FSSAI is an independent body that regulates food safety regulations in India. It lays down science-based standards for food products, their manufacturing, storage, distribution, sales and even imports. Any manufacturer that wants to sell his food product in India has to get a license from FSSAI. Its purpose is to provide food that is safe for consumption.
Background of the non-veg logo
As per FSSAI, Non-vegetarian Food” suggests an article of food containing whole or part of any animal, including birds, freshwater, marine animals, or eggs or products of any animal origin, but eliminating milk or milk products as an ingredient.
Any food product that contains any such ingredient including food additives or processing aids of animal origin have to provide a circle filled with brown colour inside a square with brown outline. The specifications for diameter and sides are also provided by FSSAI depending on food product size.
Description of the new non-veg logo
In the released Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, FSSAI has changed the symbol of non-veg food from a circle to a triangle filled with brown colour inside a square.
Reasons for the non-veg logo change
The main and foremost reason for changing the non-veg logo is to clearly distinguish between veg and non-veg products, especially for color blind people. Both logos are almost the same, with the only difference being green in the veg logo and brown in the case of the non-veg logo.
In India, 70 million people have colour blindness, making it the highest number of color blind people in the world. The International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research, 2020, reports an overall prevalence of 3.89% of colour vision defects in males and 0.18% in females in India. Colour vision deficiency is the inability to perceive colour differences under normal light conditions. Such individuals find it difficult to figure out the difference between veg and non-veg products and can buy non-veg products under the assumption that it is a veg product.
Deuteranopia is a kind of red-green colour blindness that makes it difficult for a person difficult to find the difference between red and green colour. Such individuals have red and blue functional cones in their eyes but have a lack of green cones. This results in the green colour appearing red. Changing the circle inside a square into a triangle can help such individuals to have clarity and easy understanding about the kind of product they are consuming.
References:
Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation, 2011