Health ministry asks government departments to display details about oil, fats in snacks
In a letter on June 21, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said that 'we are proposing display of Sugar and Oil Boards initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings', PTI reported.
Srivastava said that the boards would serve as 'visual behavioural nudges in schools, offices, public institutions, etc. displaying key information about hidden fats and sugars in everyday foods'.
The health secretary also urged them to print health messages on all official stationery, including letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders and publications to reinforce daily reminders on fighting obesity.
The letter asked the departments, ministries and autonomous bodies to provide healthier options, including fruits and vegetables, in their offices, while limiting the availability of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks, The Hindu reported.
It further called for the promotion of physical activities such as the use of stairs, short exercise breaks and facilitating walking routes.
Srivastava referred to a study published in The Lancet in March, which predicted that nearly 45 crore Indians could be overweight or obese by 2050. This would mean that India is likely to have the second-highest number of overweight and obese people in the world, after China.
Obesity significantly increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney and liver problems, and certain cancers. It also affects mental health, mobility and quality of life.
The campaign undertaken by the ministry will first be rolled out at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Nagpur, The Hindu reported. An unidentified ministry official told the newspaper that the campaign was expected to expand to other cities later this year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Govt not to allow sale of biostimulants without scientific approval: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Two days after he asked chief ministers of states to immediately stop forced sale of nano-fertilisers and biostimulants to farmers, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tuesday said the government will not allow the sale of biostimulants without scientific nod. He directed the officials of his ministry to put in place 'clear rules and SOPs (standard operating procedures)' for the sale of biostimulants. Chairing a meeting, Chouhan said that farmers raised numerous complaints about the sale of fake fertilisers, seeds, biostimulants, and nano urea during his visits to villages as part of recently concluded 15-day 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan', where he held direct interactions with them. Chouhan questioned why biostimulants, despite repeated renewals and years of sales, were still in the market even after several complaints stated that they were ineffective. 'Now, only those biostimulants that meet all the criteria and are proven beneficial to farmers will be approved. Approvals will now be based solely on scientific validation, and the responsibility for this will rest entirely with the concerned officials,' he said, according to an official statement. Many companies started selling biostimulants without any rules, but the government will not let this happen at any cost, he said, adding that the government will take action against suspicious manufacturers of biostimulants. 'It is necessary to review biostimulants thoroughly to see how much benefit the farmers are getting from it; if not, then permission to sell it cannot be given,' Chouhan said. He also emphasised the need for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to evaluate biostimulants. Chouhan instructed the officials to put in place clear rules and SOPs, and said that irregularities will no longer be tolerated. Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms (such as beneficial bacteria, fungi, or plant extracts) that, when applied to seeds, plants, or soil, stimulate natural plant processes. The minister pointed out that for several years, around 30,000 biostimulant products were being sold unchecked, and even in the last four years, around 8,000 products remained in circulation. 'After I enforced stricter checks, the number has now come down to around 650,' he said. It is learnt that the meeting was called impromptu and no notice was given to officials. The meeting was attended by the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the ICAR. The biostimulants market in India was valued at approximately USD 355–362 million in 2024 and is projected to reach between USD 1.13 billion and USD 1.2 billion by 2032. On July 13, Chouhan had asked the state governments to immediately stop the 'forced tagging' of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers such as urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP). In a letter to chief ministers, Chouhan highlighted complaints that retailers are not selling subsidised conventional fertilisers such as urea, DAP, etc. to farmers unless they purchase nano-fertilisers or biostimulants.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
PIB busts myth: No health warnings issued on samosas and jalebis
India's Ministry of Health directed central institutions to display 'oil and sugar boards' to raise awareness about hidden fats and sugars in common foods. This initiative aims to promote healthier lifestyles and combat obesity and non-communicable diseases. Recently, India's beloved street snacks came under scrutiny, when the Ministry of Health directed all central government institutions to install prominent "oil and sugar boards", that warns citizens about the hidden fat and sugar content in everyday foods like samosas, jalebis, vada pavs. In a post on X, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed receiving the notice, lauding the Centre for the initiative. The research institute also shared its own 'Sugar Board' that will be displayed in its offices. All of this led to misleading news circulations where sugar and trans fats were considered the new tobacco. The intent of the move was to help inform people about what they eat and how they should eat. As soon as the news spread, the Press Information Bureau (PIB), fact checking wing on Tuesday said that the Union health ministry did not advise vendors to carry warning labels on popular Indian snacks and desserts. "The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on food products sold by vendors, and has not been selective towards Indian snacks. Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebis, and laddoo," the PIB posted on X. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 요즘 SNS에서 핫한 그 반지, 기부로 받을 수 있다고? 굿네이버스 더 알아보기 Undo The PIB called the government's issue a general advisory a "behavioral nudge to make people aware of hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products, and not specially to any particular food products." The clarification followed after the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare rolled out a public health initiative aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and combating the growing burden of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and heart disease. As per reports, the details in a letter issued by Union Healthy Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said, "We are proposing the display of Sugar and Oil Boards as an 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." "In the same spirit, I request you to issue directions kindly to Departments/Offices/autonomous bodies and other public institutions/organisations under your Ministry to install 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," the letter read. All Images Courtesy: istock
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Delhi govt to inaugurate 34 new Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs
New Delhi: The Delhi government is set to inaugurate 34 new Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs across the city by next week, bringing the total number of such centres to 67, officials said on Tuesday. There are presently 33 Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs operational across Delhi aiming to provide holistic, accessible and affordable primary healthcare. The addition of 34 more centres this week will mark the second phase of the rollout. Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh told PTI, "We will inaugurate 34 more Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs this week. In the third phase of the rollout, the total number will rise to 80." He emphasised the initiative reflects the government's strong commitment to strengthening the healthcare system and ensuring better services for Delhi residents. The initiative is being positioned as a corrective step toward bridging healthcare gaps that the government claims were neglected by previous administrations. "These are not just buildings. They are centres of primary care and prevention - areas that were lacking in the previous government's approach," Singh said. The district-wise distribution includes around five new centres in central Delhi, four in east Delhi, and several others across north east, north west, south east and west Delhi. Most of these centres are being established by upgrading existing mohalla clinics, dispensaries, and polyclinics. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her Cabinet inaugurated 33 Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs and 17 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the city last month. The government has set an ambitious target of establishing over 1,100 such clinics across the capital. Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs are a component of the Union government's Ayushman Bharat initiative . After the BJP came to power in Delhi, the state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre earlier this month to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the capital -- fulfilling a major poll promise of the party. Additionally, Rs 320 crore has been proposed for the expansion of Health and Wellness Centres and Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs to strengthen primary healthcare services through the establishment of 400 new HWCs and AAMs.
