UNI

Kolkata, Jun 10: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr A Ramadoss on Friday appealed to sportspersons and Bollywood stars to desist from endorsing soft drink brands, which are "detrimental" to the health of children.

"I urge the sportspersons and actors not to take advertisement assignments for the soft drink companies like the Colas and the Pepsis since they are detrimental to the health of children," Ramadoss said at the golden jubilee function of Central Food Laboratory, Kolkata.

Nutrition check: Health Minister asks filmstars not to endorse colas as they're bad for health.

He said the Centre is in the process of implementing the 'Codex' procedure under World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations and would shortly issue a notification making it mandatory to mention ingredients and nutritional values in food items.

The Minister said the Centre has placed an integrated food safety and standardisation law in Parliament to ensure stricter regulation of food items.

The new law would replace the existing Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and other regulatory acts governing food items, he said.

As part of its process to ensure international standardization norms, the Centre would invest Rs 370 crore to modernise food and drug laboratories in the country, he said.

The fund has been obtained from the World Bank, he added.