India, like many other countries, is witnessing a “nutrition transition” marked by a shift from traditional, fiber-rich diets to processed, high-calorie Western-style diets known as junk foods. This change coincides with rapid economic progress, urbanisation, and increased consumption of packaged and processed foods. These foods are nutritionally low but high in calories, fats, salt, sugar, and preservatives. Scientific evidence shows how junk food weakens the body’s defenses against infection, increases blood pressure, spikes blood sugar, causes weight gain, and contributes to increased cancer risk.
Examples of junk foods in India include cookies, cakes, chips, instant noodles, sugary drinks, frozen meals, canned fruits, Indian sweets, and bakery products. Unsurprisingly, India is experiencing a surge in lifestyle diseases, with unhealthy diets being a major contributing factor. According to an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study published in 2023, India has a high prevalence of metabolic disorders: 11% have diabetes, 35% are hypertensive, and nearly 40% suffer from abdominal obesity.
A significant factor in evolving dietary habits is aggressive advertising promoting “tasty” and “affordable” comfort foods, particularly targeting younger consumers. A pan-India survey by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) revealed that 93% of children consumed packaged foods, 68% drank packaged sweetened beverages more than once a week, and 53% ate these foods at least once a day. Simultaneously, India’s ultra-processed food industry has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 13.37% between 2011 and 2021, and is projected to reach $535 billion by 2025-26.
To protect consumers from unhealthy foods, the Supreme Court of India ruled in 2013 that any food article hazardous to public health is a potential danger to the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Recognising the need to promote health and well-being, the Government of India has prioritised healthy foods and an active lifestyle through initiatives like Eat Right India, Fit India Movement, and Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition (Poshan) 2.0.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released the Food Safety and Standards (Safe food and balanced diets for children in school) Regulations, 2020, restricting the sale of HFSS in school canteens/mess premises/hostel kitchens, or within 50 metres of the school campus. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued a notice to a health drink giant to evaluate and withdraw misleading advertisements and labels branding the product as a “health drink” due to its high sugar content that can adversely impact children’s health.
To effectively address the consumption of junk foods, several strategies are crucial:
1. Clear Definition of HFSS Foods: The FSSAI should define what constitutes HFSS foods in the Indian context to enable better implementation of food safety regulations. Institutions like the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights can ensure stricter compliance of school food regulations.
2. Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL): FOPL empowers consumers to make informed choices. A “warning label” stating “high in salt” on the front of a package can be more effective than a mathematical nutrition table in small print on the back.
3. Subsidies for Healthy Foods: Policies can facilitate positive subsidies for whole foods, millets, fruits, and vegetables to improve their availability, affordability, and consumption.
4. Behavioural Change Campaign: Campaigns targeting children and young adults can promote healthy dietary habits and mindful eating practices through multimedia messaging on the health impacts of junk foods, campaigns promoting local and seasonal fruits and vegetables, and interactive discussions on balanced diets.
India needs a “Jan Andolan” or people’s movement for healthy and nutritionally diverse diets, backed by policy interventions that empower Indians to make informed food choices.
