Laddoos, Vada Pavs, Pakoras Under Watch: Health Ministry To Unveil 'Fat & Sugar' Warning Posters For Popular Indian Snacks

In a significant push to tackle India’s rising obesity crisis, the Health Ministry has directed all central institutions to install striking “oil and sugar boards.” These posters will clearly display the hidden fat and sugar content in everyday snacks like laddoos, vada pavs, and pakoras — foods deeply rooted in India’s culinary culture. Dieticians in Mumbai have welcomed the decision, calling it a timely and important step.

Dr Rajeshwari Panda, Head of the Dietetics Department at Medicover Hospital, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, said this is not just a symbolic move but a significant public health intervention.

“For far too long, our diets have been silently infiltrated by ultra-processed foods laden with added sugars, refined oils, and trans fats. These so-called ‘hidden’ ingredients are at the heart of India’s rising tide of lifestyle diseases: obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. When you realise that over 449 million Indians are projected to be overweight by 2050, it’s clear that the crisis is no longer looming — it’s here,” said Dr Panda.

She emphasised that food literacy must go hand in hand with food access. Many people don’t realise that a “harmless” packet of biscuits or a sugary drink can contain more than a day’s worth of sugar and trans fats. These warning boards are a crucial first step in giving people the power to make informed choices.

Dr Hrishikesh Salgaonkar, Consultant for Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, also welcomed the decision. “As a practising physician and bariatric surgeon, I mainly treat patients suffering from obesity. Many also have related conditions like diabetes, hypertension and others,” he said.

He added that awareness about healthy and unhealthy foods is generally lacking in the population. “Junk food is easily available at most workplaces and is often cheaper too. People tend to choose it because it’s convenient and not messy to eat. But many are not aware of its consequences. For example, eating two samosas has far more calories than eating dal with chapati or rice — but people simply don’t know this,” he explained.

“A simple board showing the fat and sugar content of these foods will at least make people think twice before eating them. It might encourage them to choose lower-calorie or homemade options instead,” said Dr Salgaonkar.

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Gulnaaz Shaikh, Chief Dietitian at KIMS Hospitals, echoed this view, calling the Health Ministry’s move both timely and necessary. For too long, sugar and trans fats have gone unnoticed, contributing to India’s growing problems with obesity, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, and heart disease.

By treating junk food awareness like tobacco warnings, the initiative aims to make people think twice before overindulging. Doctors and health advocates see it as a crucial step in the fight against lifestyle illnesses threatening millions across the country.