Union Health Ministry Clarifies No Directive on Warning Labels for Popular Snacks

  Warning labels for samosas, jalebis? Health Ministry says claim 'misleading, incorrect: 'Let us not interfere with people's food habits: Mamata

PTI, NEW DELHI / KOLKATA, JULY 15, 2025 : The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday termed reports claiming that it has directed vendors to put warning labels on food items such as samosas, jalebis, and laddos as "misleading, incorrect, and baseless". The ministry clarified that its advisory on health messaging about hidden fats and excess sugar in various food items is not a directive for vendors to put warning labels on their products, and underlined that it does not target India's rich street food culture.

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 item, the ministry said in a statement. The advisory also mentions other messages promoting healthy food options, such as fruits, vegetables, and low-fat choices, as well as suggesting physical activities like using stairs and performing short exercises.

The ministry had separately issued an advisory aimed at encouraging healthier choices in workplaces. This initiative advises displaying boards in workplaces to raise awareness about the harmful consumption of hidden fats and excess sugar in various food items. These boards are meant to serve as daily reminders to combat obesity, which is a growing concern in the country, the statement said.

"The Health Ministry advisory does not direct warning labels on food products sold by vendors, and has not been selective towards Indian snacks. It does not target India's rich street food culture," the ministry clarified.

This initiative is part of the ministry's flagship programs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. Excessive consumption of oil and sugar is a key contributor to the rising rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other lifestyle-related diseases.

The ministry has urged all ministries and departments to install displays on boards mentioning the sugar and oil content in snacks such as samosa, kachori, pizza, burger, French fries, soft drinks, gulab jamun, and vada pav. The goal is to promote healthier lifestyles and combat obesity and non-communicable diseases. It has also called for printing health messages on all official stationery, including letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, and publications to reinforce daily reminders about fighting obesity.

While the oil board mentioned snacks such as French fries, burgers, pizza, samosas, pakodas, and vada pav, the sugar board included items like soft drinks, gulab jamun, and chocolate pastries.

In Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too dismissed reports claiming a ban on popular snacks like samosa and jalebi. She asserted that her government will not implement any such directive. Taking to X, Mamata said: "Some media have reported that apparently samosas/jalebis cannot be consumed from now on, based on instructions from the Health Ministry. This is not a notification from the Government of West Bengal. We are not interfering in every matter. We shall not implement this. I think samosas and jalebis are popular in other states also. People in those states also love these food items. Let us not interfere with people's food habits."