Earlier this year also, the prime minister had emphasised on reducing fat consumption to tackle the obesity crisis in India. He had suggested that such awareness would guide them toward healthier choices.Warning labels on HFSS products do exactly that, they said.The public health organisations said warning labels on HFSS food products is the need of the hour as India is witnessing an alarming rise in non-communicable diseases and related premature deaths.As per national data, 28% of adults are overweight or obese, while one in four adults is diabetic or pre-diabetic. Alarmingly, 10% of 10–19-year-olds are pre-diabetic.“Children are consuming increasing amounts of packaged foods high in sugar and salt, accelerating childhood obesity. As many as 54% of all deaths are linked to unhealthy diets,” the policy statement said.Senior constitutional expert Rajeev Dhawan, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, said: “Proper and accurate labelling of all pre-packaged food products is not only consumer protection and a right to know, it is part of the right to health and life.”The policy statement called for mandatory warning labels (like High in Sugar) on the front of the pack; rejection of the 2022 draft “Star Rating” model, which is misleading and favours industry; labelling thresholds based on the 2022 Draft Regulation, WHO SEARO, or ICMR-NIN criteria; prohibition of marketing to children, including cartoons, celebrity endorsements, and health claims; transparent and time-bound regulation, with a 12-month compliance deadline; and protection of public health in trade negotiations involving food labelling standards.Dr. Nupur Bidla, National Coordinator, Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) said the Supreme Court’s question, “You all have grandchildren?… the packets have no information”, highlights the urgent need to protect future generations. “We have urged the government of India to heed the apex court’s concern and mandate warning labels – not star ratings on all ultra-processed packaged foods/ HFSS.”She said NAPi has also launched a public petition in support of this campaign.
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