Beloved Indian snacks to soon carry health warnings

Health & FitnessFood
16 Jul 2025 • 4:09 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The Indian government is implementing health warnings for popular snacks like samosas and jalebis to be displayed as cautionary notices in public venues.
  • These warnings are intended to make people aware of hidden oil, sugar and trans-fat content in food products, rather than being placed directly on the snack items themselves.
  • The initiative stems from growing concerns over India's escalating burden of lifestyle diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions.
  • Health experts largely support the move, drawing parallels between the health risks of sugar and trans fats and those of tobacco.
  • However, the policy has drawn criticism from nutritionists and public figures who argue it unfairly targets traditional Indian foods while neglecting ultra-processed Western alternatives.

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