Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Health Ministry’s directive to put up an oil and sugar board warning the amount of sugar, fat, and oil in samosas and jalebis in all Government canteens and restaurants is a big step to curb the growing levels of obesity and boost the Fit India initiative, said health experts on July 14. The Health Ministry has directed all central institutions to install “oil and sugar boards” similar to tobacco warnings on cigarette packets. The informative posters and digital boards highlight the harmful impacts of the amount of sugar and oil present in popular food items, including samosas, kachori, pizza, pakoras, banana chips, burgers, soft drinks, and chocolate pastries.
It also displays the effects of these foods on the human body as well as shares the recommended amounts of fat and sugar for individual intake. “The colourful posters will tell how much sugar and oil is hidden in the breakfast we eat every day,” a Nagpur based cardiologist Dr. Amar Amle said.
“Obesity has become a silent epidemic, and the number is estimated to increase to 44.9 crores by 2050, hence this step of the Government is highly commendable, and will help curb obesity. The warning boards are similar to those on cigarettes and tobacco,” Amle said. “The idea behind this is that people should be aware of their health, people should know while eating samosa and jalebi how much sugar, oil and fat is there in the food they are eating,” he added that the initiative was in line with PM Modi’s Fit India, will help build a healthier nation.
Milind Deora, MP, in a post on social media platform X noted that the Parliamentary Subordinate Legislation Committee is currently reviewing food regulator FSSAI’s plans to tackle India’s growing obesity crisis. “We have unanimously advocated uniform regulations across all food categories, including alcohol, so Indian food isn’t unfairly targeted while MNCs continue to market Western junk unchecked”.
