Health Ministry Addresses Rumors: Possible Warnings on Samosas, Jalebis, and Laddoos due to Misleading Health Reports
The Union Health Ministry has recently released a general advisory, encouraging workplaces to adopt healthier lifestyle choices as part of a broader initiative to combat the growing burden of lifestyle-related ailments. This advisory is not regulatory in nature and does not call for warning labels on any food products.
The advisory suggests the installation of informational boards in office lobbies, cafeterias, and meeting rooms to raise awareness about the health risks linked to excessive consumption of hidden fats and sugar. The aim is to build a culture of wellness without disrupting traditional eating habits.
The advisory is part of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), although the specific term may not be found in search results. Instead, the Ministry's initiatives are primarily conducted through the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS).
Launched to address the growing burden of lifestyle-related ailments, the NPCDCS focuses on reducing the burden of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke by promoting preventive measures and enhancing healthcare infrastructure across India.
To promote healthier lifestyle choices, the government has implemented several measures. These include Ayushman Bharat and Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), intensified NCD screening drives, mobile medical units and telemedicine, public-private partnerships and innovations, and school-based awareness programs.
Promoting healthier lifestyle choices involves addressing modifiable behavioral risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and harmful alcohol use. The advisory, therefore, encourages workplaces to encourage healthier meals like fruits and vegetables, choose low-fat options, and incorporate physical activity during the workday.
It is important to note that the initiative does not single out Indian street food or cultural food practices. The ministry has also clarified that reports claiming it directed warning labels on popular Indian food items like samosas, jalebis, and laddoos are misleading and baseless.
The advisory was first published on July 15, 2025, and has been released under the umbrella of the Union Health Ministry. The focus of the advisory is on education and awareness, not regulation or restriction of specific food items.
By promoting healthier lifestyle choices in workplaces, the government hopes to contribute to a healthier India, reducing the risk of lifestyle-related ailments and improving the overall wellbeing of the nation.
- The advisory, under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS), encourages workplaces to incorporate fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, and wellness therapies-and-treatments into their culture.
- To support this effort, the advisory suggests the installation of informational boards to raise awareness about the health risks associated with unhealthy diets, particularly excessive consumption of hidden fats and sugar, and to promote healthier diet choices such as fruits, vegetables, and low-fat options.
- In line with the Union Health Ministry's initiative to combat the growing burden of lifestyle-related ailments, the advisory does not aim to regulate or restrict specific food items, including Indian street food or cultural food practices, but rather focuses on education and awareness to promote science-based healthier lifestyle choices.
