NEW DELHI– The central government on Tuesday refuted media reports claiming that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had issued specific health warnings against popular Indian snacks such as samosas, jalebis, and laddoos as part of its anti-obesity efforts.
Clarifying the matter, the Ministry stated that the advisory on food-related health warnings was not selective or discriminatory toward Indian street foods.
“Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo. This claim is fake,” the Health Ministry said in an official statement. “The advisory does not include warning labels on food sold by vendors and is not selective towards Indian snacks.”
Several reports had earlier suggested that the Health Ministry had directed various government bodies to display warning messages against snacks like samosas, vada pav, kachoris, and jalebis. The Ministry, however, termed these reports “misleading, incorrect, and baseless.”
“The advisory was issued to raise general health awareness and does not target India’s diverse and culturally rich street food heritage,” the Ministry clarified.
Responding to the controversy, Member of Parliament Milind Deora posted on social media platform X, noting that the Parliamentary Subordinate Legislation Committee is currently reviewing the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) proposals to combat the nation’s obesity crisis.
“We have unanimously advocated for uniform regulations across all food categories—including alcohol—so that Indian food isn’t unfairly targeted while multinational corporations continue to promote Western junk unchecked,” Deora stated.
The Union Health Ministry emphasized that the advisory is part of broader initiatives under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). It aims to encourage healthier lifestyle choices in workplaces through educational messaging.
The advisory recommends placing informational boards in areas like lobbies, canteens, cafeterias, and meeting rooms to highlight the health risks of excessive sugar and fat intake. These efforts are designed as “behavioral nudges” to help individuals make informed food and activity choices, rather than as punitive or restrictive measures against specific cuisines.
The boards also promote consumption of healthy alternatives like fruits, vegetables, and low-fat meals. Additionally, the initiative includes suggestions for increased physical activity, such as taking the stairs, scheduling short exercise breaks, and encouraging walking routes.
The government reiterated that the message is broad and educational in nature, aimed at tackling rising rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other lifestyle diseases—not at singling out any food tradition. (Source: IANS)
