New Delhi: In a major push to promote healthier lifestyles and combat the rising incidence of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the Union Health Ministry has directed all central ministries and departments to prominently display boards indicating the oil and sugar content in commonly consumed snacks such as samosa, kachori, pizza, burger, french fries, soft drinks, gulab jamun, and vadapav.
The directive, issued through a letter dated June 21 by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, calls for immediate implementation of these “Oil and Sugar Boards” in government workplaces. These boards are to be placed in visible public areas such as cafeterias, lobbies, meeting rooms, and other shared spaces to raise awareness about the hidden fat and sugar content in popular food items. The aim is to encourage behavioural change and healthier dietary habits among government employees and the general public.
The Oil Board lists foods such as French fries, burgers, pizza, samosa, pakodas, and vadapav, while the Sugar Board highlights items like soft drinks, gulab jamun, and chocolate pastries. In addition to these visual cues, the ministry has also requested that all official stationery—including letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, and publications—carry printed health messages as daily reminders in the fight against obesity.
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Srivastava’s letter cited alarming statistics from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019–21), which found that more than one in five adults in India’s urban areas is overweight or obese. She also referenced a Lancet Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, forecasting that the number of overweight and obese adults in India will rise from 18 crore in 2021 to 44.9 crore by 2050—placing India as the country with the second-highest obesity burden globally.
The letter notes that poor dietary choices and reduced physical activity are fuelling the growth of childhood obesity, and that obesity substantially increases the risk of NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain cancers. It also leads to mental health challenges, reduced mobility, and declining quality of life, all while placing a significant economic burden on the country’s healthcare system and productivity.
Srivastava stressed that early prevention and lifestyle modification are key to reversing these trends. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent call to action, she noted his remarks at the opening ceremony of the 38th National Games in Dehradun on January 28, 2025, where he promoted the Fit India Campaign and urged citizens to embrace healthier lifestyles. She also highlighted his message during “Mann Ki Raat,” where the Prime Minister called for a 10 per cent reduction in oil consumption.
In response to this national appeal, and as part of the ministry’s flagship National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), Srivastava emphasised the importance of encouraging sustainable behavioural changes in government workplaces. These include lowering the intake of foods high in oil and sugar, which are significant contributors to lifestyle-related diseases.
The ministry is proposing the implementation of the Oil and Sugar Boards as behavioural nudges in public settings, including schools, offices, and government institutions, to visually communicate the health risks of everyday food choices. Along with this, ministries have been urged to promote nutritious food options—such as more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat items—while limiting the availability of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks.
The letter also encourages active workplace initiatives such as the use of stairs, short exercise breaks, and walking routes, with the goal of integrating physical activity into daily routines.
“These visual cues and practical tips are part of a larger national movement to reduce the burden of NCDs,” Srivastava wrote. “Your ministry’s leadership in this regard can serve as an inspiration for wider behavioural transformation across government systems… Together, let us lead the way in turning the honourable Prime Minister’s vision of a Healthy India into a mass movement, starting right from our workplaces.”
The letter also enclosed prototype designs of the boards, which can be customised as per specific requirements of each department or organisation.
With PTI inputs