Publications

Abstract : The main objective of the commentary is highlighting the importance of incorporating healthier choice symbols in cariogenic foods in India. By providing healthier choices or symbols to the food, consumers could be aware of the consequences of consuming such foods and they have the right to know about it. The Healthier Choice Symbols (HCS) on packaged food products indicates that there are healthier options, and this helps consumers to make informed food choices. Since dental caries are almost omnipresent among children and they are most vulnerable to Candy Culture, warnings, symbols, index should be provided in front of packs of cariogenic foods to prevent caries. Health claims and nutritional claims can also be provided on the cariogenic foods. Cariogenic food causes dental caries but no information is available to the consumer, and cannot make a choice, like in Gluten free foods, symbols warning are provided. Thus nutrition labelling provides point-of-sale information to help consumers make informed food choices. The warnings can be Cariogenic Potential of the foods and there should be cariogenicity testing of the products using a appropriate index to scale like those used in xylitilol based chewing gums using the Stephens Curve. This commentary discuss about need of the health choice symbols in the food which may cause the dental caries and an important public health measure for health promotion.