A Junk-Free stance required from concerned officials to drive India towards a healthy nation

To prevent diseases like diabetes from spiraling out of control, officials need to inform consumers about the unhealthiness of their packaged snacks

Data suggests that junk food in India is worse than in many other countries. India, not being the world’s healthiest country, faces a problem exacerbated by regulators. Urban Indians, especially the wealthier ones, live relatively sedentary lifestyles and consume diets rich in carbohydrates and fats. Recent analysis in The Lancet shows that about 23% of Indians are overweight, defined as a BMI over 25. India’s data reveals concerning trends: exceptionally high rates of abdominal obesity in women over 30, with over 55% prevalence in those older than 40. Abdominal obesity is a significant risk factor for metabolic diseases, compounded by genetic predispositions in Indians to insulin resistance and early onset of Type II diabetes. The Lancet indicates that over 100 million Indians have diabetes, and 136 million are pre-diabetic, signaling a growing crisis as the nation urbanizes and gains wealth. The shift from fresh to processed foods in middle-class Indian diets is often blamed for this issue, as packaged foods are perceived as unhealthier. Data supports that junk food in India contains higher levels of salt, sugar, and saturated fats than in many other countries.

While packaged food can be regulated for transparency, enabling consumers to manage their intake, there is still room for improvement. Nestle India Ltd. reports that branded food constitutes only a third of the market but is expected to grow significantly. However, regulators must step up. They recently mandated that nutritional information be displayed prominently on packaged food labels, which was a compromised version of a stricter proposal. It requires complex calculations by consumers, which is impractical. In 2022, a proposed “star” rating system for food was also criticized for only highlighting the least unhealthy options. Critics argue that India’s food regulators are more influenced by giant food companies than health experts. Previous rollbacks on warning labels were managed by appointing an adviser from an industry-funded institution. The processed food industry should advocate for greater transparency to encourage consumers to switch from street food to healthier options. Effective models exist, such as Sri Lanka’s “traffic light” system for sodas, which guides consumers towards more nutritious choices. Indians need clear, simple, and prominent warning labels to help make healthier choices and improve national health outcomes.