Health tips: Minister Badal says PepsiCo willing to cut sugar in drinks; Nooyi mum

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has urged PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi to bring down the sugar content in the company’s soft drinks and also stressed on the need to develop healthy and nutritious products.

According to a PTI report, the minister claimed after the meeting with Nooyi that the global food and beverages major is looking to bring down sugar contents.

“In soft drinks they (PepsiCo) are looking at how to bring down the sugar content (but) that same cold drink has the taste but healthy contents in it,” the minister said after the meeting.

Nooyi, however, did not comment and only said her visit to India was “wonderful”.

The minister also added that the PepsiCo Chairman was open to the idea of playing a role in enhancing the nutritional value of meals provided under the government’s midday scheme.

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“I have suggested if they could come up for midday meal scheme in rural areas as malnutrition is big issue… some of these packed meals which could enhance the nutrition value and which provide for iron deficiency they were interested in that they said they would look into that,” Badal said.

Badal said she discussed with Nooyi on how to contribute in giving healthy food in tiffins for school going children.

“I have suggested there is huge potential for providing healthy meals for children in their tiffins and something which is healthy and could be done quickly in the morning,” she added.

Badal also said they also discussed about a number of women-related issues and added, “I think she (Nooyi) is one of the icons for the all Indian women. She is inspiration to every women as she has risen to the heights on the sheer ability of her capabilities.”

With inputs from PTI