Feasts in Karnataka may soon come with a calorie count listed alongside dishes such as starters, biryani, mutton curry and sweet treats. The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to issue an advisory requiring caterers to display the calorie content of each food item served at events attended by more than 50 people.
The advisory is aimed at making people more aware of how many calories they consume at large gatherings, where multiple dishes are typically served together. According to officials, the initiative is primarily intended to curb overeating at social events such as weddings and large gatherings.
FDA Commissioner K Srinivas explained that at typical weddings or large events, guests are often served dish after dish—including mutton curry, fish fry, biryani, sambar, rice and one or two sweet items—which can add up to as much as 5,000 calories in a single sitting, according to a Times of India report.
Srinivas further noted that when combined with other meals consumed throughout the day, such eating patterns can significantly increase sugar and sodium intake. He cautioned that sustained overconsumption of this kind, over time, can contribute to health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes.