NEW DELHI, July 15 — The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday dismissed media reports suggesting it had mandated warning labels on traditional Indian snacks such as samosas, jalebis and laddoos, calling them “misleading, incorrect, and baseless”.
In a statement, the ministry clarified that its recent advisory urging healthier food choices and greater awareness of hidden fats and sugars was a general guideline aimed at promoting well-being and combating rising obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“There is no directive to vendors to label street food items,” the ministry said, emphasizing that the advisory is a behavioral nudge, not a regulation, and does not target India’s street food culture.
The advisory — part of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases — encourages the installation of boards at workplaces displaying health messages about excess consumption of oil and sugar in snacks like samosas, kachoris, burgers, pizzas, gulab jamuns, soft drinks and chocolate pastries.
The ministry also recommended printing awareness messages on official stationery like letterheads and notepads to reinforce healthy habits.
Officials stressed that the aim is to promote balanced lifestyles and informed eating choices, not stigmatize any particular food. “It’s about awareness, not bans,” the statement noted.
