#Samosas & Jalebis ? Not at all! It was about Oil & Sugar!!
India Input brings you the key parts of the GoI letter that prove.. Media reports on Indian snacks were indeed misleading. Read, how..
#Samosas & Jalebis ? Not at all! It was about Oil & Sugar!! Samosas & Jalebis ? were projected as being the next tobacco, to be targeted publicly. Public was said to be alerted about these snacks via precautionary warning.. Boards to be displayed at public eateries cautioning about these Indian snacks? Was the hue and cry raised by the Indian Media based on facts? Or, just an eye catching exercise was made out of a serious health issue? No, it was only about Oil & Sugar.
Were Samosas & Jalebis mentioned at all? http://www.indiainput.com brings out to you the key parts of the GoI letter.
Read on….
INDIA INPUT TEAM, New Delhi.
#Samosas & Jalebis ?
Recently, a part of the Indian Media went overboard claiming, that the Samosas & Jalebis were the new tobacco.. and that the Health Ministry of the Government of India ( G o I ), had issued directives to put boards at public eateries and Canteens to caution the snacks lovers from their consumption, also about the subsequent ill impact on human health, it posed.
The reports went on to scare the people about the lifestyle ailments like diabetes, blood pressure and the heart ailments, as arising out of the consumption.
Now be ready for the first big surprise. The main letter by the Health Ministry did not mention Samosas & Jalebis at all! All it discussed was the ill effects of Oil & Sugar consumption on human body.
Immediately after the hullaballoo, the Health Ministry of India promptly clarified for good, that the reports claiming specific warnings on these Indian snacks were misleading.
While the ministry is seeking to promote awareness about the risks of excess sugar and trans fat in various foods, it is not targeting any particular food item like Samosa & Jalebi and is instead focusing on a general health awareness initiative, in line with PM Modi’s Health India initiative. But, the next big question obviously arises.. What was in the initial letter..? Here it is..
MoHFW tweets on ‘X’ !
Advisory issued by Union Health Ministry to display Oil and Sugar Boards in workplaces is an initiative to promote healthier dietary habits
These Boards serve as behavioural nudges regarding hidden fats and excess sugar in various food products
The Advisory does… pic.twitter.com/UleZY8eGVj
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) July 15, 2025
Samosas & Jalebis ? : No mention at all!
Aimed at ‘Making Healthy India into a Mass Movement’, the letter discusses displaying boards with visual cues and practical tips though for wider behavioral transformation across government systems.
The letter is dated 21st June 2025, issued by Department of Health and Family from Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Signed by Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, IAS, the subject matter reads as Display of “Oil and Sugar Board” in Ministry / Department / Offices to promote Healthy Lifestyles and Combat Obesity and Non-
Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
At the outset, the letter mentions the sharp rise in obesity among both adults and children in India. Stating that, over one in five adults in urban areas are overweight or obese, it also reflects on the prevalence of childhood obesity, impacted by poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity.
The letter refers to The Lancet GBD 2021 obesity forecasting study, published in 2025, which says that the number of overweight and obese adults in India is projected to rise from 18 crores in 2021 to 44.9 crores by 2050, making it the country with the second-highest global burden.
#Samosas & Jalebis ?
How does obesity impact your life..
Here is what the letter says about Obesity.. It significantly raises the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain cancers. It also affects mental health, mobility, and quality of life, and imposes a heavy economic burden through increased healthcare costs and productivity losses. Early
prevention and health promotion are critical to reversing these trends.
The letter recalls the call by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to combat obesity through lifestyle changes. At the Opening Ceremony of the 38th National Games in Dehradun, on 28th January 2025, he had invoked the Fit India Campaign and urged citizens to adopt active, healthy lifestyles as part of the broader vision of a Swasth Bharat. In his Mann Ki Baat, he had also called for a 10% reduction in oil consumption.
As part of the Ministry’s flagship initiatives under the National Programme for Prevention and Control
of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), it is imperative to promote sustainable behavioral changes in our
workplaces. These include reducing excessive consumption of oil and sugar, both of which are key contributors to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other lifestyle-related disorders.
PBI does a fact check and tweets on ‘X’ !
✅The general advisory is a behavioural nudge to make people aware of hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products, and not specifically to any particular food product.
The advisory is for healthier options and initiatives at workplaces and urges people to make healthier… pic.twitter.com/gD3f2XOeTF
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 15, 2025
#Samosas & Jalebis ?
The letter proposes display of Sugar and Oil Boards as an initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings. These boards serve as visual behavioral nudges in schools, offices, public institutions etc. displaying
key information about hidden fats and sugars in everyday foods. It also calls to issue directions to Departments / Offices / autonomous bodies and other public institutions/organizations to:
i) Install Oil and Sugar Board displays (Digital/ Static posters etc) in common areas (cafeterias, lobbies, meeting rooms and other public spaces) to raise awareness on harmful consumption.
ii) Print health messages on all official stationery (letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, etc.) and publications to reinforce daily reminders on fighting obesity.
iii) 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 active workplace initiatives (such as encouraging use of stairs, organizing short exercise breaks, and facilitating walking routes).
PBI does a fact check and tweets on ‘X’
Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo.#PIBFactCheck
✅This claim is #fake
✅The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on food products sold by vendors,… pic.twitter.com/brZBGeAgzs
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 15, 2025
The contents of the letter, reproduced herewith for public awareness and clear misconceptions, clear the misgivings that may arise out of the thoughtless depiction by a part of Indian Media. The message is clear, eat the snacks you like, but in limits. Reduce trans fats and sugar in take. Stay healthy! For a Healthy India!!
Courtsey : http://x.com
Youtube link https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe_cE1U0Q6EYEmiIGQI44zapIH3k2ki04 &feature=shared of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, for relevant IEC material including posters, videos etc.
Additional Pics : http://www.pexels.com
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