Health worries
This refers to the Editorial ‘Packages of concern’ (September 10). Mandating warning labels on packaged foods can have only a limited impact on dietary habits unless we simultaneously educate people about the harm caused by excessive intake of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats in ultra-processed packaged foods.For added effectiveness, the proposed red hexagonal sign could be designed with a crisp ‘EatRight’ note merged into it.
Further, the two-of-three-ingredients criterion for the warning sign’s applicability appears to be a clear loophole that needs to be plugged.
Kamal Laddha
Bengaluru
Time to act fast
This refers to ‘Package of concerns’ (September 10), it is troubling that even after the Supreme Court stepped in, our food safety regulator is still delaying clear warnings on unhealthy snacks.The current plan only shows a warning sign if two out of three things, sugar, salt or fat, are too high, which means a product dangerously high in just one of these can still avoid any warning.
If countries like Chile and Israel can label junk food clearly, there is no good reason India cannot do the same. People deserve to know exactly what they are eating, in plain and simple terms, right on the front of the pack.
Veda Chidanand
Bengaluru
Funds inflow
This refers to ‘FCNR(B): Benefits outweigh costs (September10)’.While the hedging and sterilisation costs appear manageable, the less visible after-effects of these measures also need to be assessed.
For example, RBI has taken various measures to absorb excess liquidity through VRRR, which is essentially a short-term measure.
Such excess liquidity represents a potential opportunity cost for banks, as funds absorbed through VRRR cannot be deployed simultaneously for credit.
Even if RBI resorts to longer-term measures such as dollar/rupee swaps, OMO sales of securities or CRR enhancement, any resultant upward pressure on interest rates could have wider economic consequences, including higher government borrowing costs. These effects may not be immediately visible, but could nevertheless have a negative impact on the economy.
Srinivasan Velamur
Chennai
Lingering mistrust
With reference to ‘25 years after 9/11: The shadow of mistrust’ (September 10), the legacy of 9/11 extends beyond terrorism; it reminds us how quickly fear can deepen suspicion between communities. Security agencies must remain alert, but counter-terrorism measures should not become collective suspicion based on religion, appearance or nationality.Schools and media must challenge stereotypes and verify information before it spreads.
Communities can build trust through dialogue and local engagement. Remembering the victims should encourage societies to oppose violence without normalising prejudice.
SP Suganya Devi
Coimbatore
Published on September 10, 2026