Health warnings for samosa, jalebi? Here is what the govt’s circular says, and why

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also said, “Some media have reported that apparently samosas/jalebis cannot be consumed from now on, based on instructions from the Health Ministry. We are not interfering in every matter. We shall not implement this.” Here is what to know.

First, what did the letter say?

The June 21 letter said, “We are proposing display of Sugar and Oil Boards as an initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings. These boards serve as visual behavioural nudges…”

These boards are to serve as visual reminders to prompt people to eat healthier, in line with the government’s recent focus on combating the rising incidence of obesity in India. They will not be the same as warning labels, like the ones seen on tobacco packaging and mandated by law.

The letter included some sample templates, having not just Indian snacks but also burgers, cakes, chocolates, and soft drinks.

Designed by the apex food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), one such board said that a person should consume only around 27 to 30 grams of fat in a day. It depicted snacks such as samosa, kachori, and vadapav, along with their fat content. For reference, one samosa (100 g) yields 362 kilocalories (kcal) with 28 g of fat, while a burger has 590 kcal with 20.5 g of fat.

Similarly, the sugar boards said that adults should not consume more than 25 g of sugar per day and children not more than 20 g. They showed the sugar content in soft drinks, chocolates, gulab jamun, and flavoured juices. One gulab jamun (62 g) releases 203 kcal and 32 g of sugar.

Some of the boards contained simple graphics on the spoonfuls of sugar that one can consume — five teaspoons — along with the actual quantity in various food items. It also had the option of providing details about the foods available in the canteen on the day.

The boards further contain nuggets of information such as “jaggery, honey, date syrup, maple syrup, brown sugar, caramel, molasses are equally bad,” or “sugar can be disguised as sucralose, mannitol, erythitol, xylitol, sorbitol”.

Why is this being done?

With obesity on the rise — along with associated increases in lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, and some cancers — the government has been undertaking several activities to improve food habits. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to adopt an active, healthy lifestyle and reduce oil consumption by 10%.

In the past, studies have cited the consumption of calorie-dense foods high in sugar, salt, and fat as a major cause of rising obesity in India. The entry of multinational food and beverage companies is also a factor.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently directed its affiliated schools to establish sugar boards to monitor and reduce sugar intake in children. The board noted a significant increase in type 2 diabetes among children over the past decade. It added that sugar constitutes 13% of the daily calorie intake of children between the ages of 4 and 10 years and 15% for those between the ages of 11 and 18 years, much higher than the recommended 5%.

How big is the obesity problem in India?

The Union Health Secretary’s letter, quoting The Lancet medical journal’s Global Burden of Disease study, says that the number of obese and overweight adults in India is projected to increase from around 18 crores in 2021 to 44.9 crores by 2050. This will make India the country with the second-highest global burden.

Another representative study from India estimated that 25.4 crore people, or 28.6% of the population, live with generalised obesity.

Importantly, almost 39.5% of the population (around 35.1 crore people) live with abdominal obesity. The accumulation of fats in the abdominal region makes people more prone to the ill effects of obesity even at a lower Body Mass Index (BMI). This is because the abdominal fat is stored not under the skin but around organs such as the liver and intestines, impacting their functioning. Visceral fat is linked to a higher risk of diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.

Are all fats bad in food? How much is too much?

Fats are not inherently bad — in fact, some categories of fats are needed for the body to function properly. The Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) National Nutrition Guideline suggests that people should try to get as much of their daily requirement of fats from seeds, nuts, pulses, and beans as possible.

It suggests that one should not consume more than 4 to 10 teaspoons of oil a day, and the number should be on the lower side for those having sedentary lifestyles.

People should consume a mix of two or three different oils, ideally ones that are high in MUFAs (Monounsaturated Fatty Acids) and PUFAs (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids), such as sunflower, safflower or soybean oil.

Using the same oil repeatedly, a common practice in shops selling fried snacks and fast food chains, can be harmful. This is because when heated at high temperatures for frying, the good fatty acids in the oil break down to form harmful compounds that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

What are ultra-processed foods and trans fats?

Ultra-processed foods are high in fats, sugars, and salts, and the term generally includes industrially produced foods that contain ingredients not available in home kitchens.

Their regular consumption is linked to high levels of obesity. Additionally, it reduces the share of healthy foods in people’s diets, which have essential micronutrients, fibres, and vitamins. Ultra-processed foods can also be highly addictive and contribute to high calorific intake.

Trans fats — or trans fatty acids — are produced during the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, which is done to improve the food’s shelf life and flavour, and can be found in fast foods, potato chips, and cookies.

At times, trans fats are considered worse than the bad cholesterol or LDL because they are known to both increase bad cholesterol and decrease the good cholesterol. Trans fats are known to increase the risk of diabetes, breast cancer, colon cancer, preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), and nervous system disorders.

And how much sugar should we be consuming?

The ICMR’s National Institute of Nutrition guidelines state that everyone should restrict their sugar consumption to less than 5% of their total energy requirements, which equals about 25 g or five teaspoons, as the government has now suggested.

Any loose sugar, honey, or other sweeteners are considered added sugars — in addition to what is already present in vegetables and fruits. “If possible, added sugar may be completely eliminated from one’s diet as it adds no nutritive value other than calories. Calories are healthy only when accompanied by vitamins, minerals, and fibres,” the guideline says.

Natural sugars present in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are not harmful, but these items should also be consumed in moderation as per one’s energy requirements.

The World Health Organisation has also recommended against the use of artificial sweeteners — which provide the sweet taste with fewer or no calories — for weight loss. While there could be some weight loss and reduction in the BMI in the short term, as artificial sweeteners bring down the calories consumed, in the long run, they have been linked to weight gain, the WHO said.

The sweeteners have also been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in the long run. To be sure, diabetics can continue to use it in small quantities for their tea or coffee, according to experts.