Samosa With A Side of Guilt: Govt Canteens To Display Oil & Sugar Warnings In Fight Against Obesity
Your favourite samosa at the government canteen may soon come with a side of guilt — not just from the oil it's dripping, but from a board telling you exactly how much of it is in there. Even that extra-sweet tea might carry a sugar warning.
From cafeterias to conference rooms, government workplaces across India are set to undergo a healthy transformation. In a fresh 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 move means 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."
Citing strong evidence that obesity increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain cancers, the secretary wrote: 'It also affects mental health, mobility, and quality of life. This contributes to increased healthcare costs and productivity losses. Early prevention and health promotion are critical to reversing these trends."
It described that 'these boards serve as visual behavioural nudges in schools, offices, public institutions etc. displaying key information about hidden fats and sugars in everyday foods."
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.
What will change in government workplaces?
The ministry's directive to other departments includes several specific instructions aimed at making health messages a visible, constant part of daily routines.
'Install oil and sugar board displays – digital/ static posters etc – in common areas such as cafeterias, lobbies, meeting rooms and other public spaces to raise awareness on harmful consumption."
Also, it advises to 'Print health messages on all official stationery – letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, etc – and publications to reinforce daily reminders on fighting obesity."
Health ministry has also recommended departments to 'promote healthy meals and physical activity in offices through nutritious, healthier food options – more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat options, and by limiting availability of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks – and the workplace initiatives such as encouraging use of stairs, organizing short exercise breaks, and facilitating walking routes."
Health secretary mentioned that 'these visual cues and practical tips are part of a larger national sense of urgency to reduce the burden of NCDs…"
'…Your Ministry's leadership in this regard can serve as an inspiration for the wider workforce and institutions across India," Srivastava wrote while concluding the letter adding, 'Together, let us lead the way in turning the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of a healthy India into a mass movement, starting right from our workplaces."
First Published:
July 01, 2025, 13:47 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Closing In On TB
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reviewed the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). His emphasis on public participation and scaling up successful and innovative strategies comes at a critical time. Advances in diagnostics, digital tools, and vaccines are creating opportunities to reshape how we detect, treat, and prevent TB. Progress in recent years is encouraging. According to the WHO's 'Global TB Report 2024', global TB incidence fell by 8.3 per cent between 2015 and 2023. India outpaced this trend, achieving a 17.7 per cent reduction. These gains reflect the focused efforts and commitment of the NTEP. As we look to sustain and accelerate these gains, we must focus on closing the diagnostic gap — the most critical weak link in the TB care cascade. In 2023, an estimated 2.7 million people worldwide who developed TB were not diagnosed or notified. Without diagnosis, timely treatment is impossible, and the chain of transmission continues. Compounding this challenge is the emerging evidence that a significant number of TB patients do not exhibit symptoms. Studies suggest that this early stage of the disease, known as subclinical TB, may account for about 50 per cent of cases in high-burden settings, including India. This is likely a key driver of the ongoing transmission. India's recently concluded 100-day intensified TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has provided several learnings. By screening vulnerable populations, including those without symptoms, the programme noted that the campaign identified 2.85 lakh asymptomatic TB patients — out of 7.19 lakh diagnosed. These individuals would likely have been missed under conventional, symptom-based screening approaches. By deploying portable chest X-rays, the campaign demonstrated the transformative potential of technology. AI-assisted reading of X-rays can detect lung abnormalities rapidly and accurately, allowing for quick identification of otherwise 'missing' cases. The government's plan to scale up this approach country-wide is encouraging and could serve as a global model. A new generation of point-of-care diagnostic tools is transforming what's possible. Traditional sputum-based tests can be challenging, particularly for children and the elderly. But innovations — such as non-invasive sampling methods like tongue or nasal swabs — can help detect TB earlier and more affordably. The availability of open PCR platforms can be another game-changer — by cutting the cost of testing significantly, these platforms can make high-quality molecular diagnostics accessible across public and private settings. In India, several of these tools are already being piloted, and the Indian Council of Medical Research is playing a key role in facilitating their adoption into routine care. Along with the upgradation of our diagnostic capacity, we must look at reducing mortality due to TB. India has taken important steps to improve supportive care, including the doubling of monthly nutritional support under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) — a direct cash transfer scheme that helps patients meet their dietary needs during treatment. This expansion is timely, as undernutrition remains one of the leading risk factors for TB progression. The country is also moving toward differentiated models of TB care, where services are tailored based on a patient's risk profile and severity at diagnosis. This includes early risk stratification, timely referral of severe cases to higher-level facilities, and the provision of more intensive inpatient care where needed. This approach can drive down mortality appreciably and must become a core feature of the TB response. We must prioritise reducing TB deaths to as close to zero as possible in the near future. While these advancements in diagnostics, treatment, and care delivery are crucial, we must not lose sight of the long-term solution — an effective TB vaccine. The experience of developing Covid vaccines demonstrates how global collaboration, streamlined regulatory pathways, and strong public investment can significantly accelerate timelines — an approach that must now be applied to TB vaccine development. India, with its scientific leadership and manufacturing capacity, is uniquely placed to drive the development and equitable deployment of next-generation TB vaccines, just as it did with Covid. An mRNA vaccine is in an early stage of development in India, and others are at various stages of clinical trials. PM Modi's leadership has played a pivotal role in keeping TB elimination high on the national agenda and inspiring other countries to set ambitious goals. With continued political commitment, evidence, data-informed policies and a strong focus on innovation, India can drive transformative change in the global fight against TB. The writer is chairperson, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and principal advisor, NTEP, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
India's health survey data reveals 13% children born prematurely, 17% with low birth weight
New Delhi: India's demographic health survey 2019-21 reveals that 13 per cent of children were born prematurely, and 17 per cent with a low weight at birth, with air pollution contributing to the adverse birth outcomes . Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and institutes in the UK and Ireland looked at the National Family Health Survey-5 and remote sensing data to analyse how exposure to air pollution in pregnancy impacted the delivery outcomes. The team found that an increased exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy was related with a 40 per cent chance of low birth weight, and 70 per cent of premature delivery. Climate conditions, such as rainfall and temperature, were found to have a greater link with adverse birth outcomes. The study, published in the journal PLoS Global Public Health, also found that children living in the northern districts of India could be more vulnerable to the ambient air pollution. Measuring under 2.5 microns in diameter, fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is considered among the most harmful air pollutants, sources of which include burning of fossil fuels and biomass. The researchers found higher levels of PM2.5 pollutants over the upper Gangetic region, covering states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, and lower levels in the country's southern and north-eastern regions. A higher prevalence of premature births was seen in northern states, such as Himachal Pradesh (39 per cent), Uttarakhand (27 per cent), Rajasthan (18 per cent), and Delhi (17 per cent). Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura exhibited a lower prevalence of the trend. Punjab was found to have the highest prevalence of lower birth weight at 22 per cent, followed by Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. North-east India fared far better on the metric, the authors said. "Utilising data from the national family health survey and raster images, the study employs various statistical analyses and spatial models to elucidate the connection between in-utero exposure to air pollution and birth outcomes," the authors wrote. They "observed that approximately 13 per cent of children were born prematurely, and 17 per cent were born with low birth weight." Further, an increase of 10 microgram per cubic metre in PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increase of five per cent in the prevalence of low birth weight, and 12 per cent in premature birth. The team added that 18 per cent of children born in the five years preceding the National Family Health Survey-5 had a low weight at birth. The authors called for targeted interventions, especially in the northern districts, and an intensification of the National Clean Air Program. Launched in 2019, the programme is aimed at improving air quality in India by addressing PM levels. The researchers also advocated for climate adaptation strategies, such as heat action plans and water management, to be included in public health planning. Awareness of risks due to air pollution and climate change should be raised as part of public health initiatives, especially among pregnant women, the team said.
NDTV
16 hours ago
- NDTV
13% Children Born Prematurely. 17% With Low Birth Weight In India: Report
New Delhi: India's demographic health survey 2019-21 reveals that 13 per cent of children were born prematurely, and 17 per cent with a low weight at birth, with air pollution contributing to the adverse birth outcomes. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and institutes in the UK and Ireland looked at the National Family Health Survey-5 and remote sensing data to analyse how exposure to air pollution in pregnancy impacted the delivery outcomes. The team found that an increased exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy was related with a 40 per cent chance of low birth weight, and 70 per cent of premature delivery. Climate conditions, such as rainfall and temperature, were found to have a greater link with adverse birth outcomes. The study, published in the journal PLoS Global Public Health, also found that children living in the northern districts of India could be more vulnerable to the ambient air pollution. Measuring under 2.5 microns in diameter, fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is considered among the most harmful air pollutants, sources of which include burning of fossil fuels and biomass. The researchers found higher levels of PM2.5 pollutants over the upper Gangetic region, covering states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, and lower levels in the country's southern and north-eastern regions. A higher prevalence of premature births was seen in northern states, such as Himachal Pradesh (39 per cent), Uttarakhand (27 per cent), Rajasthan (18 per cent), and Delhi (17 per cent). Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura exhibited a lower prevalence of the trend. Punjab was found to have the highest prevalence of lower birth weight at 22 per cent, followed by Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. North-east India fared far better on the metric, the authors said. "Utilising data from the national family health survey and raster images, the study employs various statistical analyses and spatial models to elucidate the connection between in-utero exposure to air pollution and birth outcomes," the authors wrote. They "observed that approximately 13 per cent of children were born prematurely, and 17 per cent were born with low birth weight." Further, an increase of 10 microgram per cubic metre in PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increase of five per cent in the prevalence of low birth weight, and 12 per cent in premature birth. The team added that 18 per cent of children born in the five years preceding the National Family Health Survey-5 had a low weight at birth. The authors called for targeted interventions, especially in the northern districts, and an intensification of the National Clean Air Program. Launched in 2019, the programme is aimed at improving air quality in India by addressing PM levels. The researchers also advocated for climate adaptation strategies, such as heat action plans and water management, to be included in public health planning. Awareness of risks due to air pollution and climate change should be raised as part of public health initiatives, especially among pregnant women, the team said.
