Nisha Pandey

Why Indian Doctors Are Seeking A Ban On Junk Food Ads And Mandatory Warning Labels On Packaging?

A group of leading Indian doctors and public health experts has urged the Centre to impose strict restrictions on junk food advertising and make warning <span>labels</span> mandatory on packaged foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

The appeal comes amid growing concerns over obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases in India.

The experts have asked Centre to immediately implement recommendations from the Economic Survey 2025-26, including a “watershed” ban on advertisements for high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt (<span>HFSS</span>) foods and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) between 6 am and 11 pm across media platforms.

The public statement was endorsed by several prominent health experts, including former WHO chief scientist Dr <span>Soumya Swaminathan</span>, founder of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Dr K Srinath Reddy; paediatrician Dr Narender Arora; chairman of Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, Dr V Mohan; former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria; endocrinologists Dr Anoop Misra and Dr Ambrish Mithal; cardiologist Dr Gurpreet S Wander; diabetologist Dr Shashank Joshi; public health policy expert Dr Chandrakant Lahariya; cardiologist Dr TS Kler; and Dr Arun Gupta, convener of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi).

<h2>Why Experts Are Seeking A Ban On Junk Food Advertising?</h2>

The experts argue that the problem does not lie in simply what people eat, but how <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/nutrition/study-links-lower-protein-intake-to-healthy-ageing-expert-explains-who-should-shouldnt-cut-back-article-155312676" data-type="tilCustomLink">unhealthy foods</a> are marketed.

Junk food advertisements frequently use celebrities, influencers, sports sponsorships, cartoon characters and promotional offers to make products more attractive, particularly to children and adolescents, who get influenced easily.

“We are concerned that these junk foods are increasingly promoted through persuasive and misleading advertising strategies that encourage overconsumption,” the doctors said in their joint statement.

Dr Arun Gupta, convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), has previously warned that marketing plays a major role in driving consumption of unhealthy foods. He has argued that India’s current regulatory framework is not strong enough to stop misleading advertising of HFSS foods.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/why-fssai-seized-18000-boxes-of-diageo-whisky-vodka-bottles-article-155590298" data-type="tilCustomLink">Why FSSAI Seized 18,000 Boxes Of Diageo Whisky, Vodka Bottles</a>

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The doctors have also called for mandatory warning labels on the front of <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/nutrition/real-paneer-vs-analogue-paneer-could-it-affect-your-health-article-155370566" data-type="tilCustomLink">unhealthy packaged foods</a>.

Unlike a rating system that gives a product an overall score, warning labels are designed to immediately tell consumers when a food is high in sugar, salt or unhealthy fats.

The experts basically want that consumers should not have to turn the packet around, decode a long nutrition table or interpret marketing claims before understanding what they are buying. Dr K Srinath Reddy has previously backed the idea that nutritional information to be translated easily and quickly as soon as a consumer picks up a food product. 

<h2>Children At The Centre Of The Debate</h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/no-more-buy-1-get-1-free-after-uk-northern-ireland-restricts-promotion-of-unhealthy-foods-to-tackle-obesity-article-155213232" data-type="tilCustomLink">No More 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free': After UK, Northern Ireland Restricts Promotion Of Unhealthy Foods To Tackle Obesity</a>

The experts have specifically called for restrictions on celebrity endorsements, influencer marketing, cartoon characters, child-directed promotions, buy-one-get-one-free offers and sponsorship of schools and sports activities by unhealthy food brands.

They cited NFHS-6 data that shows nearly one in three women and more than one in four men aged 15-49 are overweight or obese.

“Protecting children from the harmful impact of junk food marketing is a fundamental public health, child-rights, and preventive healthcare priority,” Dr Gupta and the other signatories said in their letter to the Centre.

The appeal comes ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on a public interest litigation concerning warning labels, putting the debate over how India regulates unhealthy food marketing.

<h2>Maharashtra Bans Junk Food Sale Outside Schools </h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/no-junk-food-near-schools-maharashtra-fda-bans-sale-of-foods-drinks-high-in-fat-salt-sugar-article-155217874" data-type="tilCustomLink">No Junk Food Near Schools! Maharashtra FDA Bans Sale Of Foods &amp; Drinks High In Fat, Salt &amp; Sugar</a>

This comes after Maharashtra <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/tudriqev-us-fda-approves-replimunes-skin-cancer-drug-after-rejecting-it-twice-article-155368594" data-type="tilCustomLink">Food And Drug Administration</a> (<span>FDA</span>) has taken a significant step towards promoting healthy eating habits in children. 

FDA commissioner <span>Tukaram Mundhe</span> recently announced that foods and drinks high in fat, sugar, and salt should not be sold within 50 metres of school premises.

"Within school premises and up to 50 metres from the school compound, the sale, advertisement and free distribution of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food items is completely banned by the FDA. It will be implemented strictly," Mundhe said.

The recent ban covers popular junk food items like vada pav, samosas, deep-fried snacks, chips, cold drinks, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/limiting-sugar-before-age-2-may-lower-alzheimers-risk-by-46-study-suggests-article-155232664" data-type="tilCustomLink">sugary beverages</a>, chocolates and ice cream.

Mundhe said the state government had issued a compliance order on July 27 to enforce food safety and nutritional standards across educational institutions.

He also said that the move would affect nearly two crore students studying in around 1.08 lakh schools in Maharashtra.

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A group of leading Indian doctors and public health experts has urged the Centre to impose strict restrictions on junk food advertising and make warning labels mandatory on packaged foods high in fat, sugar and salt.The appeal comes amid growing concerns over obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases in India.The experts have asked Centre to immediately implement recommendations from the Economic Survey 2025-26, including a “watershed” ban on advertisements for high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt (HFSS) foods and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) between 6 am and 11 pm across media platforms.The public statement was endorsed by several prominent health experts, including former WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan, founder of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Dr K Srinath Reddy; paediatrician Dr Narender Arora; chairman of Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, Dr V Mohan; former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria; endocrinologists Dr Anoop Misra and Dr Ambrish Mithal; cardiologist Dr Gurpreet S Wander; diabetologist Dr Shashank Joshi; public health policy expert Dr Chandrakant Lahariya; cardiologist Dr TS Kler; and Dr Arun Gupta, convener of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi).Why Experts Are Seeking A Ban On Junk Food Advertising?The experts argue that the problem does not lie in simply what people eat, but how unhealthy foods are marketed.Junk food advertisements frequently use celebrities, influencers, sports sponsorships, cartoon characters and promotional offers to make products more attractive, particularly to children and adolescents, who get influenced easily.“We are concerned that these junk foods are increasingly promoted through persuasive and misleading advertising strategies that encourage overconsumption,” the doctors said in their joint statement.Dr Arun Gupta, convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), has previously warned that marketing plays a major role in driving consumption of unhealthy foods. He has argued that India’s current regulatory framework is not strong enough to stop misleading advertising of HFSS foods.Also read: Why FSSAI Seized 18,000 Boxes Of Diageo Whisky, Vodka BottlesCan Warning Labels Help?            The doctors have also called for mandatory warning labels on the front of unhealthy packaged foods.Unlike a rating system that gives a product an overall score, warning labels are designed to immediately tell consumers when a food is high in sugar, salt or unhealthy fats.The experts basically want that consumers should not have to turn the packet around, decode a long nutrition table or interpret marketing claims before understanding what they are buying. Dr K Srinath Reddy has previously backed the idea that nutritional information to be translated easily and quickly as soon as a consumer picks up a food product. Children At The Centre Of The DebateAlso read: No More 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free': After UK, Northern Ireland Restricts Promotion Of Unhealthy Foods To Tackle ObesityThe experts have specifically called for restrictions on celebrity endorsements, influencer marketing, cartoon characters, child-directed promotions, buy-one-get-one-free offers and sponsorship of schools and sports activities by unhealthy food brands.They cited NFHS-6 data that shows nearly one in three women and more than one in four men aged 15-49 are overweight or obese.“Protecting children from the harmful impact of junk food marketing is a fundamental public health, child-rights, and preventive healthcare priority,” Dr Gupta and the other signatories said in their letter to the Centre.The appeal comes ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on a public interest litigation concerning warning labels, putting the debate over how India regulates unhealthy food marketing.Maharashtra Bans Junk Food Sale Outside Schools Also read: No Junk Food Near Schools! Maharashtra FDA Bans Sale Of Foods & Drinks High In Fat, Salt & SugarThis comes after Maharashtra Food And Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a significant step towards promoting healthy eating habits in children. FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe recently announced that foods and drinks high in fat, sugar, and salt should not be sold within 50 metres of school premises."Within school premises and up to 50 metres from the school compound, the sale, advertisement and free distribution of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food items is completely banned by the FDA. It will be implemented strictly," Mundhe said.The recent ban covers popular junk food items like vada pav, samosas, deep-fried snacks, chips, cold drinks, sugary beverages, chocolates and ice cream.Mundhe said the state government had issued a compliance order on July 27 to enforce food safety and nutritional standards across educational institutions.He also said that the move would affect nearly two crore students studying in around 1.08 lakh schools in Maharashtra.

why indian doctors are seeking a ban on junk food ads and mandatory warning labels on packaging?

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Why Indian Doctors Are Seeking A Ban On Junk Food Ads And Mandatory Warning Labels On Packaging?

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