CSE recommends ban on celebs endorsing high sugar, fat foods
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has recommended a complete ban on celebrities endorsing foods high in salt, sugar or fat. Other suggestions made by CSE include strengthening nutrition facts labelling system, ascertaining nutrients and approving food advertisements. It further called Centre's proposed penalty and jail term to celebrities for misleading advertisements as ineffective.
New Delhi, Dec 16 (PTI) The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has recommended a complete ban on celebrities endorsing foods high in salt, sugar or fat. Delivering her opening address at the briefing, Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE, said, "The government is considering amending the Consumer Protection Act to provide for five-year jail term or a penalty of Rs 50 lakh to hold celebrities responsible for false and misleading claims. "But the same amendment says that there will be no liability if precautions are taken and due diligence is done before deciding to endorse a product. In other words, this amendment amounts to nothing." The expert committee on Consumer Protection Bill, 2015 has recommended a penalty of Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment of up to two years or both for a first offence by a celebrity responsible for false and misleading claims. The penalty is Rs 50 lakh and five-year imprisonment for a second offence. 