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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Nothing wrong if Kharge wants to come back to Karnataka politics: G Parameshwara
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said there is nothing wrong if party national President Mallikarjun Kharge wants to return to state politics.
He was responding to a question from reporters on Kharge's remarks, recalling how he lost the Chief Minister's post to S M Krishna after the 1999 Karnataka Assembly polls. Kharge's remarks added to the speculations of leadership change in Congress and about his return to state politics.
Senior Congress leader Parameshwara also said that wrongly interpreting Kharge is also not correct.
Kharge's statement seems to have rekindled the debate on 'Dalit CM' within the party. The AICC President, who hails from Karnataka, belongs to a Scheduled Caste.
Making a Dalit the CM is a hotly debated matter within the Congress party, the issue on which senior leaders and Ministers Parameshwara and H C Mahadevappa have openly spoken in the past. Both belong to Scheduled Castes.
These comments have come amid speculations within the state's political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now about the Chief Minister change later this year, citing a rumoured power-sharing agreement involving incumbent Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.
"Kharge is a senior leader not only in our party, but in national politics, making comments on him is not right. Kharge is competent to hold all kinds of positions; he has experience, and he has been in politics for about 50 years. If he says something, interpreting it wrongly is not correct," Parameshwara told reporters in response to a question.
Asked about some speaking about his return to state politics, he said, "There is nothing wrong in it. He is holding the decisive position in our party. He is the one who decides as to who should be the Chief Minister, being the AICC President. So, in case he wants to come back to state politics, no one should interpret it wrong."
Speaking at an event in Vijayapura on Sunday, Kharge had recalled about him missing the Chief Ministerial post, when Congress came to power in 1999.
"As CLP (Congress Legislature Party) leader I tried to bring the party to power (ahead of 1999 polls), the party formed the government and S M Krishna became the Chief Minister. He had come (as KPCC President) four months ahead (of polls)....all my service was washed down the river. I feel that -- I toiled for five years, but the person who came four months ago was made the CM," the Congress chief had said.
"What I'm trying to say is, we may face difficulties, but we must continue to work without greed in mind. If you are greedy, you won't get anything, also you won't be able to do what's in your mind. Passing through all these things, from being a block president, I have now become AICC President. I did not go behind positions," he further said.
Mahadevappa too, reacting to Kharge's statement on Monday had said, Kharge is one of the senior leaders in the country and he has all the required qualities to occupy any constitutional post, and our wish is that he should get an opportunity, whenever there is one.
Naming Dalit leaders in Congress who have occupied the CM post in other states like -- Damodaram Sanjivayya, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Jagannath Pahadia and Ram Sundar Das, he said, "When time comes the party will take a decision and everyone will abide by it."
However, trying to downplay speculations, Kharge's son and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday said his father was merely sharing the path he had walked in his political career -- both ups and downs -- and that his speech should be seen in entirety not selectively. He has also made it clear that he has no regrets.
"From the blessings of everyone, the people of Kalaburagi and Karnataka, he is in the post that was once occupied by Subhas Chandra Bose and Gandhiji. Whatever he has decided on his political future, he will decide himself. He has earned that respect and reputation. He has a good relationship with the high command. Whatever he decides, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will automatically accept it," he said.
