End the free rein of junk food in India

Published 21 June 2026 · india

Despite the Government of India’s plans to amend laws to curb the promotion of HFSS (high in fat, sugar and sodium) foods, such products continue

Despite the Government of India’s plans to amend laws to curb the promotion of HFSS (high in fat, sugar and sodium) foods, such products continue to be rampantly. As evidence of the health harms associated with industrially processed foods engineered to be highly palatable and potentially addictive continues to grow, restricting their — particularly exposure to children and young people — may no longer be avoidable. Try opening a YouTube video on politics, scrolling through Instagram reels, or scanning a newspaper, and you are likely to encounter for noodles, chips, biscuits, breakfast cereals, chocolates, sweetened beverages, or other ultra-processed food (UPF) products. Recently, there was a YouTube for a newly launched baked chips brand in India. The emphasised the product’s cheese and tomato flavours and the “crunchiness” to appeal to consumers. What it did not disclose was that the product is a UPF with ingredients such as maltodextrin, nature-identical flavourings, flavouring substances, salt substitute (KCI/potassium chloride), acidity regulators (627, 631) and emulsifier (322). While prominently promoting selective attributes such as “baked”, the omitted material health information, including the product’s high salt and fat content and the presence of refined carbohydrates. Such marketing practices can create a misleading impression of healthfulness while obscuring the nutritional risks associated with these products. While readers can recall their own experiences, there are a few other examples in the media. A female film celebrity is seen recommending a multigrain, “no maida choco cereal” for her son, despite it being a high sugar product. An entire family of actors promotes a “12-grain” breakfast cereal, while a popular film actor endorses a biscuit as a “good choice”. Most of these products, however, are high in sugar, fat and/or salt, raising questions about the messages conveyed through such endorsements. Such selective disclosures create a false perception of healthfulness and deprives consumers, particularly children and adolescents, of the right to make an informed choice.

Comment | Flawed food regulations fuel the obesity crisis Review frameworks The focus of this article is also to draw the attention of policymakers to the need for reviewing whether existing legal frameworks sufficiently serve the public interest. Clearer legal provisions may be required to effectively regulate the of unhealthy food products. is directly linked to increased consumption of UPFs, which is strongly associated with rising rates of obesity and diabetes. These often feature child actors and use emotionally appealing messages aimed at both children and parents, creating a desire for such products. The fact that in 2024, three major transnational corporations spent $13.2 billion on underscores the volumes and the power of food product. does not merely reflect demand; it helps create it. In India alone, more than two lakh junk food in a month were backed by expenditure of about ₹170 crore. Evidence suggests that UPFs can encourage overconsumption through mechanisms that resemble those identified in addiction science. The health harms associated with UPFs appear closely linked to their industrial design and marketing strategies. But the food industry fails to disclose this fact to people. Recently, the City of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against 10 major UPF manufacturers, alleging child-targeted marketing, the development of highly compelling product formulations, and inadequate disclosure of health risks such as obesity and diabetes. Among other remedies, the lawsuit sought to prevent further deceptive marketing practices and pushed for corrective measures to address the effects of past false. Also Read | Publicise oil and sugar content of Indian snacks, Health Ministry tells government departments A policy gap The Government of India’s Multisectoral Action Plan (NMAP) for Prevention and Control of Common Non-Communicable Diseases (2017-2022) envisaged the prohibition/restrictions on the of HFSS foods. Many pre-packaged foods are highly processed, containing additives such as colours, flavours, emulsifiers and sweeteners, and are often HFSS.