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New Delhi: Ministry of Health has been urged to implement strict ban on advertisements promoting high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products as India’s non-communicable diseases (NCDs) epidemic such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension, especially due to dangerous links among children.
Public Interest (NAPI) has written to the Ministry of Health to push the Health Ministry for strict rules in view of the Economic Survey 2024-25, which has highlighted a dangerous bounce in the consumption of ultra-prosely foods (UPF) in view of the Economic Survey 2024-25, in nutritional advocacy supported by the Press Council of India.
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The report stated that the aggressive marketing of HFSS products-oxidation as “healthy” or “nutritious”, caused dietary habits, which displaces traditional, balanced diets with calories-throat, nutritious-poor food.
A public health emergency
In a communication for NP, Ministry of Health and PCI, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data was told that 56.4% of India’s total disease burden is now associated with unhealthy diet
Napi convenor Dr. Arun Gupta said, “These foods are drug addiction, and their tireless advertising – especially a health destruction for children.” “The current self-control approach has failed. We need legally binding sanctions on HFSS advertisements similar to those on tobacco and alcohol.”
Case for strong advertising criteria
The proposal of NAPI presented to PCI in May 2024 demands amendment in the criteria of 2022 to clearly ban advertisements for HFSS and UPF products.
The draft revision suggest adding HFSS foods to the list of restricted categories, which already includes cigarettes, alcohol, and other narcotics. The group argues that many of these advertisements deliberately hide significant nutritional information, violating the Consumer Protection Act 2019, which defines misleading advertisements that “deliberately hide important information.”
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The Press Council of India, initially after saying that the issue fell out of its mandate as advertised products have been proposed to FSSAI, later forwarded NPP’s recommendations to the Ministry of Health for further action. In a letter in February 2025, PCI Secretary Shabha Gupta said that while newspapers could not make a mistake to carry out obedient advertisements, health implications warrant policy intervention.
Global examples and local resistance
Internationally, many countries have already taken steps to limit HFSS advertisement. Chile, Mexico and UK have implemented strict front-off-pack warnings and banned children targeting junk food advertisements. Brazil and France have also imposed tax on ultra-related products. NPP has urged India to adopt similar measures, including:
Compulsory warning on HFSS products
Applying high taxation on UPFS to discourage a complete restriction and consumption on celebrity endorsement and child-targeted advertisements for such foods.
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However, the food industry has opposed such steps, arguing that restrictions will harm businesses and limit the consumer choice. “Self-veneration is a smokescreen,” Dr. Gupta said. “The advantage of the industry struggles with public health goals. Only stringent government action may reverse this crisis.”
A tipping point for policy change?
Taking cognizance of misleading advertisements with the Supreme Court – especially affects people who affect children and weak groups – the pressure on regulators is increasing. Economic Survey 2024–25 clearly asked for “strict front-off-pack labeling rules” and warned that without immediate action, India’s demographic dividend could be reduced by a sick, unproductive population.
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As the Ministry of Health reviews NP’s proposal, public health advocates hope that India will finally join the global movement against junk food advertising. “It’s not only about regulating advertisements – it’s about saving life,” Dr. Gupta said. “Every day delay means that more children are developing diabetes, more adults suffer from heart attacks. It is time to work.”
Questions sent to the Ministry of Health remained unanswered.
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