The authors of the bill refer to 2021 data, which indicates that about 10.5 million people in Russia are affected by diabetes, with at least 300,000 new cases reported each year. Poor dietary habits, overeating, and obesity are identified as major contributors to the high prevalence of diabetes. The authors of the bill believe that providing comprehensive information about food composition can help mitigate this unfortunate reality.
However, as stated in the document’s explanatory note, determining the amount of sugar in products is currently challenging because manufacturers are not obliged to disclose this information under existing legislation.
The document proposes amendments to the Federal Law “On Food Quality and Safety”.
The bill pertains to food products containing more than 5 grams of sugar per 100 grams. In such cases, information about the sugar content, as well as the percentage relative to the daily intake recommended by Rospotrebnadzor, must be prominently displayed on the front label or packaging. The information should be presented in black text enclosed within a red border against a white background. The size of this border should occupy no less than 10% of the label or packaging area, says the document.
