Food Processing Ministry to Launch Nutrition Tracking Device

Story BySameeksha Bahuguna

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With the smart device, individuals can actively monitor their daily calorie intake and nutritional habits. The device will also assist users in making informed dietary choices by promoting preventive healthcare.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has urged the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM-Kundli) to develop a smartwatch-like device that can track an individual's daily nutrition levels.

At a recently held workshop, Dr Subrata Gupta, Secretary, MoFPI, said that a growing public consciousness around wellness is evident from the increasing use of smartwatches to track daily physical activity.

Moreover, Gupta pointed out a critical oversight, “While we keep track of how many steps we walk each day, we often fail to monitor how much energy or how many calories we consume every day.”

In addition, the device could also play a crucial role in preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for approximately two-thirds of global deaths.

Moreover, experts at the workshop stressed the importance of grounding future policies in rational, evidence-based frameworks that reflect the complexities of modern food systems.

Dr Satyen Panda, Executive Director (R&D) and Advisor (QA) at FSSAI, highlighted the risks associated with high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and stressed the need for a balanced and scientific approach to addressing these concerns.

Additionally, Ravinarayan Acharya, Director General of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), stated that the Ministry of Ayush is collaborating with FSSAI, various central ministries, and state governments to ensure the safety, quality, and healthfulness of food products.

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