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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
What is the directive on sugar, salt labelling?
The story so far: The Health Ministry has asked all government departments to prominently display the amount of oil and sugar content on popular Indian snacks like samosa, vada paav, kachori, pizza, and burger, stating that this information has to be shared in cafeterias, lobbies, meeting rooms, and even government stationery. What is the proposal? 'We are proposing a 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,' said Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava in a recent letter to all ministries, departments, and autonomous bodies of the Union government. It has also requested that all official stationery-letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, etc., and publications print health messages as daily reminders to reinforce the fight against obesity. Why are warning labels being devised? The Health Ministry says these warnings are designed to create awareness. 'The goal is to promote moderation, not restriction,'' it added. According to the information released by the Health Ministry, India is currently facing an unprecedented rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for over 66% of all deaths across the country. With the rapidly changing demographic and epidemiological landscape, the burden of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers has become a public health challenge, particularly among individuals over the age of 30, it noted. Pariksha Rao, director of nutrition and medical affairs at The Good Bug, a private venture in the wellness industry, points out that too much sodium, added sugar, refined oils, and sugar-sweetened drinks, often disguised as healthy options, can derail even the best diets. 'These contribute directly to the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and poor metabolic health. At the same time, many people fall short on essential nutrients by not getting enough fibre, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, or fermented foods that support gut health,' she adds. Functional snacks, which promise health benefits, also add to the problem. How is the nutrient value of food calculated? Nutrient values of foods are calculated by conducting laboratory assessment of prepared foods and are represented on a per 100g basis for ease of understanding. It considers total sugar, saturated fat, and salt levels. Where lab-based nutrient analysis is not available/feasible, evaluations are based on aggregating the nutritional values of ingredients available in the Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT) published by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition-Hyderabad (ICMR-NIN). Foods are usually evaluated for their healthiness using validated nutrient profiling models. The recently released ICMR-NIN's Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, made an attempt to indicate high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) foods as foods in which calories from total sugar exceed 10% of total energy, calories from added fat/oil exceed 15% of total energy, and salt content is more than 625 mg per 100g of solid food, explains Bharati Kulkarni, director at ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. She adds that the NIN supports the Centre's initiative to create public consciousness about HFSS foods as a step toward addressing the rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases, especially among children and youth. The HFSS foods are usually processed and are typically low in essential nutrients; excessive consumption of HFSS foods can contribute to various health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. What are the unhealthy snacks? Any snack or food, Indian or Western, homemade or packaged, can be unhealthy if it exceeds the limits of sugar, salt and fat content. 'It would not be pertinent to single out Indian snack foods or Western ones, or even packed foods or the ones we buy on the street. The focus should be on the nutritional content of a food irrespective of its origin. Initiatives of the Health Ministry are a part of a non-punitive, awareness-driven approach to create behavioural nudges and empower consumers to make informed choices. These efforts complement government programmes like Eat Right India of FSSAI, Poshan Abhiyaan, Fit India, National NCDs control programme and school health initiatives,' says Dr. Kulkarni. What are the guidelines on sugar and salt? TheWorld Health Organization recommends a healthy diet throughout life to help prevent all forms of malnutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight, inadequate vitamins or minerals, overweight, obesity), as well as a range of diet-related non-communicable diseases(such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers), and lower the risk of infectious diseases. For adults in India, the recommended daily intake is less than 65g of total fat, less than 25g of added sugar, and less than 5g of salt. The limits have also been set for children in their various phases of development. Ms. Rao advocates for building meals around fibre-rich ingredients, local produce, lean proteins, and healthy fats. 'Cook at home more often, slow down at meals, and reduce reliance on packaged shortcuts. Small, consistent changes make a bigger impact than restrictive trends. What matters most isn't perfection, but a long-term pattern of choosing food that nourishes the body.'
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
What 1 Gulab Jamun is hiding could change the way India eats
A crispy samosa. A fizzy drink. A chocolate pastry after lunch. These may seem like harmless to consume, even occasionally. But what if these items come tagged with hidden risks, risks that could quietly damage health, day by day? The Indian government has launched a bold step inspired by the Prime Minister's 'Fit India' mission, which is to introduce Sugar and Oil Boards across public spaces. These visual tools aren't just posters, they're messengers, bringing attention to the sugars and fats that sneak into daily meals. With rising obesity, heart disease, and diabetes numbers, it's time to stop and look. What seems like comfort food may actually be fueling a national health crisis. The reality behind the posters: What sugar and oil boards actually say The new Sugar and Oil Boards don't rely on generic warnings. They lay out specific, relatable, and shocking facts. For example, that soft drink on the desk? It might carry 7 to 8 teaspoons of sugar. The innocent-looking banana chips could be swimming in oil. These boards recommend: Fat intake: 27–30 grams/day Sugar intake: Not more than 25g/day for adults, 20g/day for children These are not just random numbers, they're based on scientific findings from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) . Why these boards matter more than we think There's a quiet war being fought against lifestyle diseases. Obesity, once dismissed as a personal issue, now has national consequences. According to The Lancet , India could see 44.9 crore obese or overweight people by 2050. These aren't just numbers. They translate into: Spiking diabetes cases Heart conditions at younger ages Early onset of hypertension Reduced productivity Rising healthcare costs The new boards, therefore, serve a powerful purpose: they act as behavioural nudges, guiding food choices without bans or enforcement. Just like anti-smoking labels changed public perception, these boards may redefine food culture. The sugar trap: More than just a sweet tooth Sweet isn't always harmless. Excessive sugar has been linked with: Type 2 diabetes Fatty liver disease Increased belly fat Mood fluctuations Even cognitive decline But here's the catch: most of the sugar consumed is hidden. It's in ketchup, fruit juices, breakfast cereals, and so-called healthy granola bars. By displaying sugar content in everyday foods, these boards peel off the marketing layer and reveal the bitter truth beneath the sweet. The oil overload From street-side pakoras to fancy burgers, oil makes food taste good, but in excess, it weighs down health. The danger isn't just in how much is added, but what kind is used. Hydrogenated oils and trans fats are commonly found in: Bakery items Fried snacks Instant foods They contribute to: Artery clogging High cholesterol Weight gain Chronic fatigue Dr Sunil Gupta told TOI, 'Sugar and trans fats are the new tobacco.' The comparison may sound dramatic, but the consequences aren't. Small moves with big impact Some ministries have already adopted the message. Healthy replacements like: Sattu drinks Millet snacks Green tea Coconut water are replacing sugary teas and fried bites in canteens.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Holistic approach to type-2 diabetes management and the role of lifestyle factors
As a country, we are dining out and ordering in like never before. Convenience aside, the salty snacks and sugary desserts that get delivered to our doorstep in less than 30 minutes, come with consequences. Sheela Krishnaswamy, Wellness & Nutrition Consultant shares that an exhaustive, decade-long study published in Lancet in 2023, found that 101 million people in India are living with diabetes and another 136 million people could be living with pre-diabetes. Some people in India are genetically predisposed to developing type 2 diabetes, which is exacerbated by lifestyle factors including lack of exercise and eating an unhealthy diet. Healthy dietary habits, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting adequate exercise, are some of the factors that can help to prevent type 2 diabetes. In most people with Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone critical for transporting blood sugar into cells) and cells respond poorly to insulin and take in less sugar (insulin resistance). Eating a healthy diet is an important strategy to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Even small changes in dietary habits can lead to significant, long-term health benefits. In India, eating almonds every day has been a time-honoured tradition. The wisdom of this practice is supported by a wealth of recent scientific studies. The latest Dietary Guidelines released by the ICMR-NIN, recommended the regular consumption of nuts like almonds as part of a balanced diet. Almonds are recognized not only as an excellent source of natural plant-based protein but also as a nutritious, healthy snack that contributes to overall well-being. Two studie s by the National Diabetes, Obesity, and Cholesterol Foundation (NDOC), designed to ascertain the impact of simple changes to an individual's diet, found that consumption of 20 grams of almonds before each major meal benefited blood sugar control both in the short-term (over three days) and in the long term (over three months) among Asian Indians with overweight/obesity and prediabetes. The three-month intervention reversed prediabetes in nearly one-quarter of the participants. The study results must be viewed in the context of the overwhelming array of associated risks and complications—heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, limb amputation, blindness, and nerve damage—that diabetes brings with it. More than 60% of people with pre-diabetes are likely to convert to diabetes in a span of five years. Moreover, 50% of people are unaware of their diabetic status, further increasing chances of these complications. There's yet another pertinent reason for caution. Asian Indians—characterized by tendency for abdominal adiposity, higher waist circumference, lower BMI, and greater insulin resistance—are more prone to developing diabetes. It is also well documented that obesity increases diabetes risk. A seminal study conducted on overweight and obese Asian Indian adults found that eating 43 grams of almonds daily for 12 weeks reduced insulin resistance, improved insulin sensitivity, and helped control blood glucose levels. The people eating almonds achieved significant reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference over the intervention period and lowered their total cholesterol. Overtime, these changes could reduce the risk of diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases. Rich in natural sources of some of the essential nutrients, almonds are a smart and satisfying food not only for blood glucose control but also to boost intake of key nutrients. A typical 28 grams serving has 13 grams of unsaturated fat and just 1 gram of saturated fat. They make for a good snacking choice as they are also a rich and natural source of plant protein, dietary fiber, monounsaturated (good) fat, Vitamin E, magnesium, and phosphorus. Their daily consumption is known to decrease the intake of carbohydrate calories and even help in lowering the blood sugar impact of carbohydrate foods, which affects fasting insulin levels.
