Ministries, depts asked to display oil, sugar content in snacks like samosa, pizza
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.
New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) The Union health ministry has urged all ministries and departments to instal 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.
Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation, on Monday pitched for treating and regulating food items such as pizzas, burgers and doughnuts at par with samosa, jalebis and vadapav for health risks.
In the letter written on June 21, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said that India is witnessing a sharp rise in obesity among both adults and children. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21), more than one in five adults in the urban areas are overweight or obese.
The prevalence of childhood obesity is impacted by poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity. According to the Lancet Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 obesity forecasting study published in 2025, the number of overweight and obese adults in India is projected to rise from 18 crore in 2021 to 44.9 crore by 2050, making it a country with the second-highest global burden, she said.
Obesity significantly raises the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and certain cancers. It also affects mental health, mobility and quality of life, and imposes a heavy economic burden through increased healthcare costs and productivity losses.
Early prevention and health promotion are critical to reversing these trends.
In the letter, Srivastava referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to combat obesity through lifestyle changes.
'At the opening ceremony of the 38th National Games in Dehradun on 28 January 2025, the prime minister invoked the Fit India Campaign and urged citizens to adopt active, healthy lifestyles as part of the broader vision of Swastha Bharat. In his Mann Ki Raat, he called for a 10 per cent reduction in oil consumption,' the letter said.
In response to this national appeal and as part of the ministry's flagship initiatives under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), it is imperative to promote sustainable behavioural changes at our workplaces. These include reducing excessive consumption of oil and sugar, both of which are key contributors to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other lifestyle-related disorders, Srivastava stated.
'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,' the letter stated.
She requested all ministries to issue directions to all departments/ offices/ autonomous bodies and other public institutions/organisations to instal Oil and Sugar Board displays (digital static posters etc) in common areas (cafeterias, lobbies, meeting rooms and other public spaces) to raise awareness on harmful consumption. She asked them to print health messages on all official stationery (letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, etc) and publications to reinforce daily reminders on fighting obesity.
'Promote healthy meals and physical activity in offices through nutritious, healthier food options (more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat options, and by limiting availability of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks) and active workplace initiatives such encouraging use of stairs, organising short exercise breaks, and facilitating walking routes),' she said.
'These visual cues and practical tips are part of a larger national movement to reduce the burden of NCDs, and your ministry's leadership in this regard can serve as an inspiration for wider behavioural transformation across government systems… Together, let us lead the way in turning the honourable prime minister's vision of a Healthy India into a mass movement, starting right from our workplaces,' she said.
The letter also had a few prototypes of the boards as enclosures which it said can be customised according to requirement. PTI PLB KSS KSS
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Rajasthan Governor lays emphasis on social concerns in health management
Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade has laid emphasis on addressing the social concerns in the field of health management, while ensuring the quality of health facilities and high standards of education. Mr. Bagade said the institutions should pay attention to research for improving health care services. Addressing the convocation ceremony of IIHMR University here, Mr. Bagade said while the students should apply their knowledge and skills to the cause of nation building, the universities could collaborate with the national and international institutions for research. It would improve the quality of their own work, he added. 'The National Education Policy-2022 has integrated traditional and modern knowledge. It has made the education system relevant to the present needs and fostered holistic development of the students,' Mr. Bagade said. The Governor conferred degrees on 423 graduating students and gave away medals to the toppers from various disciplines. He said since the students become future leaders of the country, there should be no compromise with the quality of their education. 'The NAAC accreditation of all universities in Rajasthan and quality in higher education is our highest priority,' he said. Drugs Controller General of India Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi said India formed an important part of the global healthcare value chain and was providing medicines and trained manpower to over 200 countries. IIHMR University president P.R. Sodani said the University had conducted various studies for the Union government and the governments of several States to improve the health care delivery system. Rajasthan University of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Pramod Yeole, and IIHMR University's chairperson Sudarshan Jain and founder-trustee Ashok Agarwal were among those present. The graduating batch of students comprised those from the streams of hospital and health management, pharmaceutical management, development management, implementation science and executive courses. Nine doctoral students were also awarded with the degrees.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Nurses strike enters day 5, patient care takes a big hit
Nagpur: The indefinite strike by the Maharashtra State Nurses Union entered its fifth day on Tuesday, continuing to severely impact patient care services in major govt hospitals across the state, especially in districts like Nagpur, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, and Amravati. Although a meeting was held with medical education minister Hasan Mushrif in Mumbai, the union has declared that the strike will not be withdrawn unless firm written govt orders are issued addressing their long-standing demands. On Tuesday evening, Mushrif chaired a meeting with representatives of the Maharashtra State Nurses Union at Mantralaya, where three key demands saw positive verbal assurances, said Union representative Suresh Madankar. The minister agreed that orders to change designations will be issued soon. Also, there will be no contract-based recruitment for nursing posts in the future. Most importantly, no disciplinary action will be taken against probationary nurses currently participating in the strike. However, despite these assurances, union leaders have categorically stated that "no strike withdrawal will happen based on verbal commitments alone". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The protest will continue until official govt orders are issued. "Only written orders will be trusted, verbal promises are not enough," said Madankar, adding, "This time, we will not return to work unless our rights are guaranteed in writing." Meanwhile, letters issued by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and individual hospital deans created a sense of fear among some probationary staff, especially in Nagpur and Yavatmal. A section of these nurses returned to duty, concerned about possible future consequences. However, the union has assured all its members that complete legal and organisational protection will be provided, especially to those on probation.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Gadkari inaugurates daycare facility for infectious diseases at city hospital
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: Ishra Health, formerly known as Tayade's Clinic, has introduced a daycare facility for infectious disease treatment at its newly upgraded facility in Nagpur. The facility was inaugurated by Union minister Nitin Gadkari recently. The centre is equipped with modern amenities, and well-trained staff. Dr Ashwini Tayade heads the department of infectious diseases. Tayade specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of complex infectious diseases including HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), and infection-related cancers. Ishra Health also offers advanced cancer care services under the leadership of Dr Ramakant Tayade, onco-surgeon with a career spanning over two decades. Dr Ramakant Tayade specialises in the surgical treatment of breast cancer, oral, head and neck cancers, thyroid cancer, gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, esophagus and pancreatico-biliary cancers, and gynaecological malignancies.
