‘Your Jalebi, Vada Pav, Pakora, Contains…’: Nagpur To Display Tobacco-Like ‘Sugar, Oil’ Warnings

Last Updated:July 14, 2025, 11:59 IST

Health ministry has ordered all govt institutions in Nagpur, including AIIMS Nagpur, to install ‘oil and sugar boards’ to alert citizens of the sugar and oil content in snacks

Junk food: These boards will be bright posters that serve as reminders on the fat and sugar content. (News18 Local File)

Who doesn’t know the health issues linked to their favourite junk food like laddoo, vada pav, pakora, jalebis and samosas? But most ignore it while giving in to their craving. Not anymore.

Nagpur will be among the first Indian cities to treat junk food like tobacco, with sign boards to remind you that you are risking your health just for a moment of fulfilment.

The health ministry has ordered all government institutions in Nagpur, including AIIMS Nagpur, to install ‘oil and sugar boards’ that will alert citizens of the sugar and oil content in popular snacks such as laddoo, vada pav, pakora, samosa, jalebi, etc, reported the Times Of India.

Cafeterias and public areas in AIIMS Nagpur will soon display these oily and sugary food warnings. “It’s the beginning of food labelling becoming as serious as cigarette warnings," TOI quoted Amar Amale, president of the Cardiological Society of India’s Nagpur chapter, as saying. “Sugar and trans fats are the new tobacco. People deserve to know what they’re eating."

News18 report on July 1

News18 had on July 1 reported how in a push to curb rising obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the union health ministry has directed all ministries, departments, and public institutions to display ‘Oil and Sugar Boards’ — informative posters or digital boards — making people aware of how much oil and sugar they are consuming.

The News18 report had said that canteens and common areas in government offices could soon feature messages about harmful food habits, and even menus may be nudged towards healthier options like fruits, vegetables, and low-fat meals.

According to the letter written by health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, dated 21 June, India is witnessing a sharp rise in obesity among both adults and children. The letter, which has been accessed by News18, highlighted National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data which shows “over one in five adults in urban areas are overweight or obese and prevalence of childhood obesity is impacted by poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity."

PM Modi’s push to combat obesity

The campaign draws inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent public health push. “Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has given a clarion call to combat obesity through lifestyle changes."

At the opening ceremony of the 38th National Games in Dehradun on 28th January 2025, the PM had invoked the “Fit India campaign and urged citizens to adopt active, healthy lifestyles as part of the broader vision of a Swasth Bharat." Also, in his radio programme Mann Ki Baat, he called for a 10 per cent reduction of obesity in the country.

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