"Misleading": Health Ministry On Warning Labels For Samosas, Jalebis
The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday termed reports claiming it has directed vendors to put warning labels on food items such as samosas, jalebis and laddos as "misleading, incorrect, and baseless".
It clarified that its advisory on health messaging about hidden fats and excess sugar in various food items is not a directive for vendors to put warning labels on their products, and underlined that it does not target India's rich street food culture.
The general advisory is a behavioural nudge to make people aware of hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products, and not specifically to any particular food product, the ministry said in a statement.
The advisory mentions other messages promoting healthy food such as fruits, vegetables and low-fat options and making suggestions for people to opt for physical activity, such as the use of stairs and short exercises.
The ministry had separately issued an advisory, which is an initiative towards making healthier choices at workplaces. It advises displaying boards in workplaces to raise awareness on the harmful consumption of hidden fats and excess sugar in various food items.
These boards are meant to serve as daily reminders on fighting obesity, the burden of which is sharply rising in the country, the statement said.
"The health ministry advisory does not direct warning labels on food products sold by vendors, and has not been selective towards Indian snacks. It does not target India's rich street food culture," it clarified.
The initiative is part of the ministry's flagship initiatives under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.
Excessive consumption of oil and sugar is a key contributor to the rising rate of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other lifestyle-related diseases.
The ministry has urged all ministries and departments to install displays of boards mentioning the sugar and oil content in snacks such as samosa, kachori, pizza, burger, french fries, soft drinks, gulab jamun and vadapav to promote healthy lifestyles and combat obesity and non-communicable diseases.
It has also called for printing health messages on all official stationery such as letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders and publications to reinforce daily reminders on fighting obesity.
While the oil board mentioned snacks such as French fries, burgers, pizza, samosa, pakodas and vadapav, the sugar board included items such as soft drinks, gulab jamun and chocolate pastries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
24 minutes ago
- India Today
Why onions make you cry and how science is trying to stop the tears
It starts innocently enough. You grab an onion, slice it open, and within seconds, you're squinting through a blur of tears, questioning every life decision that led to this moment. No, you're not being overly sensitive. Your eyes are just reacting to one of nature's most efficient defence ONION'S SECRET WEAPONOnions, like many plants, have evolved to protect themselves. When you chop into them, you're essentially wounding the onion, and it fights what happens: 1. Inside each onion cell are two separate components: enzymes and sulfur-containing compounds2. When you slice into the onion, these components mix and form a volatile gas called syn-Propanethial-S-oxide.3. This gas wafts up into your eyes and reacts with the water in them to form a mild sulfuric acid.4. Your eyes, not fans of acid, begin to sting and your tear glands go into overdrive to flush it NOT EMOTIONAL, IT'S CHEMICALUnlike crying from sadness, this is a reflex tear, triggered by your body's protective mechanisms. You're not upset about dinner prep, your eyes are literally defending YOU STOP THE WATERWORKS?Actually, yes. Some hacks to try:Chill the onion before cutting. Cold temperatures slow down the a sharp knife. A cleaner cut breaks fewer cells, releasing less under a vent or fan. Blowing the gas away before it reaches your eyes goggles. Yes, it looks ridiculous. But yes, it SCIENCE THAT SELLSInterestingly, scientists in Japan have developed a tear-free onion by turning off the gene that makes the tear-inducing enzyme. But purists argue it takes away from the essence of the onion's flavour. After all, the same compounds that make you cry also give the onion its sharp WHY DO WE KEEP CUTTING THEM?Despite the tears, onions are a cornerstone of countless cuisines: Indian tadkas, French soups, Mexican salsas, you name it. They're pungent, complex, and worth every sting. So the next time your eyes start watering mid-chop, just remember: it's not you, it's science. And dinner will be all the better for it.- Ends
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Health coach shares 5 Indian snacks that can make you insulin resistant: Digestive biscuits, roasted makhana and more
Nikita Bardia is a health and fitness coach who keeps sharing important insights related to diet and fitness on her Instagram profile on a regular basis. From how to eat right and live better, to how to avoid the lifestyle habits that can sabotage health, Nikita's Instagram profile is replete with inspo for her followers. On July 26, Nikita shared an Instagram post explaining how Indian snacks that we think are healthy, might be sugar in disguise. Also read | Say goodbye to afternoon slump in office: 5 nutritious snacks to boost your energy Indian snacks that we think are healthy, might be sugar in disguise. (Unsplash) 'We've been brainwashed into believing anything labeled baked, roasted, low-fat, or organic is better for us. But here's what I tell my clients who can't lose belly fat or constantly feel tired. It's not your meals, it's your snacks that are silently building insulin resistance,' Nikita wrote. 1. Roasted chana / makhana / millet mixtures (with masala or sweet coating) They're marketed as high protein, but the added jaggery, salt, and repeated roasting in palm oil can lead to carb bomb with trans fats What to eat instead: Pair makhana with nuts and ghee or eat plain, not flavoured. 2. Low-fat or sugar-free protein bars Most are ultra-processed, high in maltitol, fructooligosaccharides, and synthetic fiber. These spike insulin without real nutrition and bloat your gut. What to eat instead: Make your own with nuts, seeds, dates; 3-ingredient style. Sugar-free protein bars can spike insulin levels.(Unsplash) 3. Flavoured Greek yogurt / fruit yogurt Even the healthy ones have more sugar than ice cream. Artificial flavours and no fat can lead to poor satiety, which can trigger sugar craving rebound. Also read | Nutritionist explains how protein-rich snacks can maintain weight and support heart health: 'Avoid mindless munching' What to eat instead: Go for plain full fat dahi and add berries, cinnamon, soaked seeds. 4. Digestive biscuits, granola clusters, ragi chips High glycemic load and low protein can lead to classic insulin trap. Digestive biscuits have more sugar than glucose biscuits in some cases. What to eat instead: Replace with 2 soaked walnuts and a small fruit or homemade trail mix. 5. Jaggery-based bars / snacks marketed as diabetic friendly Jaggery, honey, coconut sugar are still sugars. Repeated intake can trigger high insulin, energy crashes, carb cravings. What to eat instead: Learn to spot real whole foods vs disguised marketing. Also read | Is your child obsessed with sugary food? Here's how you can alter unhealthy eating habits Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Mint
24 minutes ago
- Mint
US-return man almost dies after working at ‘toxic' Indian startup, suffers major heart attack: ‘It's not worth it'
A Reddit user shared his painful story of working in an Indian startup. The post, It's not worth it, has struck a chord with many. For 20 years, he worked with US and European companies and knew what a healthy work culture looked like. But after losing his job, he joined a startup in India, ignoring all red flags. Within weeks, he saw lies about revenue, rude founders, long working hours and toxic behaviour. He stayed on because the job market was tough, but the stress broke him. 'Classic toxic Indian workplace - gaslighting, nepotism, impossible clients, zero respect,' he wrote. 'Every day chipped away at my sanity, ethics, and self-respect. Depression crept in as the founders' failures made them increasingly abusive to employees,' he wrote. The user finally quit, even without another job. Soon after, he suffered a major heart attack and needed two emergency stents. Doctors said he was just 30 minutes from death. 'Now I'm home - jobless, damaged heart, uncertain future. Was that monthly salary worth permanently destroying my health? Hell no. My brain keeps saying, 'What choice did I have?' But, there's always a choice. We just refuse to see it until we're lying in a hospital bed,' the user commented. 'To everyone grinding through toxic workplaces 'for financial security' - your life is worth more than any paycheck. Your family needs you alive, not rich and dead,' he added. Social media users posted empathetic replies. At the same time, they understood what he was going through. 'How many more heart attacks would stop this exploitation! Hope you get the strength to overcome this situation,' wrote one user. 'I can understand ...I am in the same boat but not me, my husband got 2 heart attacks..3 the age of 31. He was made to sit at home, I left my job for caregiving its not just in IT but every field. Hes in the hotel industry. Joined back still a stressful job and every visit to the doctor is still a nightmare with new issues,' came from another. Another wrote, 'Cause of our population, our mental health and human value is very very less and government doesnt care cause there is always replacement for us.' 'It's a great lesson to get away from egotistical founders who think they are the gangsters of the business world. I worked at one such firm, and my health went downhill,' came from another.
