Obesity and Health Crisis in India
One in four adults in India are obese, and the same number are diabetic or pre-diabetic (National Family Health Survey-5).
Prime Minister Modi's call to tackle obesity and the 2025 Economic Survey’s recommendation of a ‘health tax’ on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are commendable.
However, these efforts face challenges due to unclear and industry-friendly food marketing regulations.
Food Labelling and Advertising Regulations
FSSAI proposed a flawed "Indian Nutrition Rating" system, which misleads consumers by giving stars to unhealthy foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS).
Industry lobbying influenced the decision, sidelining scientific recommendations and making the system ineffective in guiding healthy choices.
There is a lack of clear, mandatory warning labels like those used in countries like Chile, which have proven effective in reducing UPF consumption by 24%.
Ineffective Laws on Misleading Advertising
India has multiple laws aimed at curbing misleading advertising, but they are ineffective due to ambiguity and lack of enforcement.
The Consumer Protection Act (2019) and FSSAI regulations do not require nutritional information to be disclosed in food advertisements, allowing unhealthy products to target vulnerable groups like children.
There are no specific regulations or definitions for HFSS foods or UPFs, leading to unchecked advertising of unhealthy products.
The Path Forward
The Economic Survey advocates for stricter front-of-pack labels and marketing curbs to address the issue.
Key steps include:
Scrapping the Indian Nutrition Rating system and replacing it with warning labels.
Setting clear limits on sugar, salt, and fat in HFSS foods.
Closing advertising loopholes with stricter regulations.
Launching public awareness campaigns about the risks of UPFs.
Urgent regulatory action is needed to curb obesity and meet the Prime Minister’s vision of a healthier India.
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