Centre proposes nutritional awareness boards on sugar, fat content in public spaces
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a letter dated June 21, has reached out to all central ministries and departments, proposing the display of information boards highlighting the sugar and fat content in commonly consumed foods across public offices, schools and institutional spaces. The initiative is spearheaded by Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava.
The proposed “Sugar and Oil Boards,” designed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), are intended to serve as visual nudges rather than regulatory warnings. These boards include sample data on both Indian and international, such as samosas, kachoris, burgers, cakes, chocolates, soft drinks and traditional sweets like gulab jamun. The boards will communicate that adults should limit fat intake to around 27–30 grams per day and sugar intake to less than 25 grams.
The initiative stirred controversy after few media reports inaccurately portrayed the move as a ban on traditional Indian snacks and the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded to these reports by stating that her government would not implement the Centre’s proposal, calling it an interferece with everyday lifestyle choices.
Health Ministry officials clarified that the boards are intended as educational tools, not prohibitory measures. Sample boards included with the letter outlined the nutritional values of a wide array of items, from vada pav to carbonated drinks. Some boards also featured daily dietary recommendations and flagged misleading sweeteners and hidden sugars found in packaged foods.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in a similar effort earlier this year, advised affiliated schools to install sugar boards in response to a noted surge in type 2 diabetes cases among children. CBSE cited data showing that children aged 4-18 often derive over twice the recommended proportion of daily calories from sugar.
The ministry’s communication refers to The Lancet’s Global Burden of Disease study, which projects that by 2050, the number of overweight and obese adults in India could reach 449 million,up from approximately 180 million in 2021, placing the country second globally in terms of obesity burden. Research also estimates that 28.6% of India’s population lives with generalised obesity, with 40% abdominal obesity.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommendations, adults must consume 4 to 10 teaspoons of oil per day, with oils rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. It also cautioned against the repeated use of the same oil for frying.
Further, ICMR guidelines along with the World Health Organisation advise limiting added sugars such as jaggery, honey, syrups and artificial sweeteners to less than 5% of total daily caloric intake, as these are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mortality.
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Meghalaya: Interstate ATM theft racket busted, 6 arrested
Shillong (PTI): An interstate racket involved in ATM thefts across several states has been busted, with the arrest of six persons in connection with a break-in at an electronic banking outlet in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district, police said on Wednesday.
The accused were allegedly involved in breaking into an ATM of the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank on April 5, 2024, they said.
Three of the accused were arrested from Barpeta in Assam, while the remaining were apprehended from Haryana, police said.
Ri-Bhoi SP Giri Prasad M said a special police team was constituted to investigate the case.
"With coordinated efforts and assistance from Assam and Haryana Police, we were able to apprehend the accused involved in the ATM break-in," he told PTI.
The case was registered at Umiam police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police, the gang used gas cutters to break open the ATM safe and fled with the cash within minutes.
"The group is part of a larger network involved in similar ATM thefts across different states. Further investigation is underway to dismantle the entire network," the SP added.
