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Wedding feasts in Karnataka may soon come with a calorie count alongside starters, biryani, mutton curry, and sweet treats. The Food Safety and Drug Administrator (FDA) is set to issue an advisory asking caterers to display the calorie content of each food item served at events attended by more than 50 people.

The advisory aims to make people more aware of how many calories they are consuming at large gatherings where multiple dishes are served together. According to officials, the move is aimed at curbing overeating at large social gatherings.

FDA Commissioner K Srinivas shared, “When people attend weddings or large events, dish after dish is served — mutton curry, fish fry, biryani, sambar, rice and one or two sweet dishes as well. By the end of such a meal, a person could consume as many as 5,000 calories at one sitting,” as per a Times of India report.

He continued, “When combined with other meals of the day, the person's sugar and sodium consumption shoots up. Such consumption over time can lead to high blood pressure and diabetes. When a calorie chart is displayed, people will become more mindful of what they eat and how much.”

The idea is to display the calorie content beside each dish at large events. As a result, instead of simply seeing mutton curry or biryani on the menu, guests would also be presented with the calorie content of each dish. This does not intend to stop people from eating their favorite dishes at weddings but aims to make the nutritional cost of a large meal more transparent.

According to the report, the FDA is also considering special inspection drives targeting cloud kitchens and home chefs, as these businesses have been growing rapidly in recent years. The proposed checks are expected to focus on food-safety practices and the quality of ingredients both cloud kitchen owners and home chefs use to prepare the food.