Publicise oil and sugar content of Indian snacks, Health Ministry tells government departments

Health Secy asks government departments to put up display boards at food counters selling samosas, jalebis, pakoras, vada pav, chai biscuits, and other snacks; to start in AIIMS Nagpur, expand to other cities

How much oil, sugar, and trans fats are present in your regular evening samosa, pakora, chai biscuit, or jalebi? The Health Ministry has asked all government departments to display such information in their cafeterias, lobbies, and meeting rooms, in a bid to highlight the health risks of popular Indian snacks, especially at a time when lifestyle diseases are a growing burden across the country.

“We are proposing display of Sugar and Oil Boards initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings. These boards serve as visual behavioural nudges in schools, offices, public institutions etc displaying key information about hidden fats and sugars in everyday foods,” Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said in a recent letter to all Ministries, departments and autonomous bodies of the Union government.

The campaign is being rolled out first in Nagpur, where the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will serve as the pilot location for the initiative.

“AIIMS, Nagpur will now see the calorie count poster beside popular food stalls with clear information about sugar, fat, and trans-fat content. It will outline long-term health risks from frequent consumption. These warnings are designed to be direct and create awareness. The goal is to promote moderation, not restriction. The campaign is expected to expand to other cities later this year and we hope that this step will encourage people to make more mindful food choices,’‘ said a senior health official. 

Encouraging healthy choices

In her letter, Ms. Srivastava asked government departments to print health messages on all official stationery and publications to reinforce daily reminders on fighting obesity.

They were also asked to promote healthy meals and physical activity in their offices by providing nutritious, healthier food options — including more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat options, while limiting the availability of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks — and starting active workplace initiatives, such as encouraging the use of stairs, organising short exercise breaks, and facilitating walking routes. 

She added that these visual cues and practical tips are part of a larger national movement to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases. 

High obesity levels

In her letter, the Health Secretary referenced a recent study published in The Lancet, which predicted that nearly 45 crore Indians could be overweight or obese by 2050. This means that, by mid-century, India is likely to have the second-highest number of overweight and obese people in the world, after China.  

The World Health Organisation (WHO) noted that the current food environment in which many people live, work, and spend their daily lives consists of highly processed and readily available foods high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and sodium. Many of these foods are also heavily marketed and relatively cheap. As a result, consumers are often challenged to make healthy food-related decisions. Unhealthy diets are now a leading global public health risk, contributing to noncommunicable diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancers.