Artificial sweeteners take a bite out of mango demand

ISLAMABAD: A National Assembly panel has voiced concern over a drop in mango production and the increasing use of artificial sweeteners in beverages, saying the shift has hurt demand for products made with natural mango pulp.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research took up the matter during a meeting chaired by MNA Tariq Hussain. Representatives of the Multan Mango Growers Association also attended and briefed lawmakers on the pressures facing the sector, including a notable fall in mango output in recent years.

Concerns over regulatory changes

According to the growers’ representatives, beverages made with artificial sweeteners have reduced demand for products based on natural mango pulp. They told the committee that before 2021, natural mango pulp was commonly used in juice production, but later changes in regulations by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority allowed greater use of artificial additives and chemical sweeteners.

The association said those regulatory changes contributed to lower consumption of natural mango-based products. It also told the committee that the expanded use of such ingredients could be associated with longer-term health concerns.

Health ministry input presented to panel

During the discussion on health effects, a representative of the Ministry of National Health Services shared findings from the National Institute of Health. The findings indicated possible harmful effects linked to frequent consumption of synthetic beverages.

The committee also noted that mango production has fallen from 2.2 million tonnes to 1.8 million tonnes in recent years. Alongside the issue of beverage standards, the panel reviewed challenges affecting mango production, the safety standards applicable to synthetic mango-flavoured drinks, and the strategy for exports.

The meeting reflected concern within parliament over both the condition of the mango sector and the market shift away from natural pulp-based products following changes in the regulatory framework.