Recently, a social media post has been doing rounds across the platforms, which mentioned that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has shared guidelines against certain food products, including samosa, jalebi, and laddoo.
However, a detailed investigation into the matter has revealed that the Health Ministry of India has NOT shared any warning against any food item, which shows that it is FAKE NEWS circulating across the internet.
Fact Check -
While emphasizing the matter, the PIB Fact Check has also shared a detailed clarification of the matter and has outlined that the claim is fake.
According to the details shared by PIB Fact Check, the advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry doesn’t mention any warning labels against these food items. However, the general advisory has focused on the usage of excess sugar in all food products.
PIB Fact Check has shared the truth regarding the matter on its official social media platform, which read, “Some media reports claim that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo. #PIBFactCheck.”
It furthermore read, “This claim is #fake. The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on food products sold by vendors and has not been selective towards Indian snacks. The general advisory is a behavioral nudge to make people aware of hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products, and not specifically to any particular food product.”
The post also mentioned that the advisory is for “healthier options and initiatives at workplaces and urges people to make healthier choices to cut down on excess oil and sugar towards healthy eating and living. It does not target India's rich street food culture.”
The Claim -
According to several reports, the advisory by the Union Health Ministry is not focused on any Indian snack or rich street food, but it does focus on the items that are high in oil and sugar.
Clarifying the fact, the ministry added, “The Health Ministry Advisory does not direct Warning Labels on food products sold by vendors, and has not been selective towards Indian snacks.”
It also pointed out that the advisory is a high-level behavioral nudge, which is to inform people about the risks in their diet in all food groups, so no type of traditional or local delicacies are targeted.
This program is a part of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) that deals with the prevention problems associated with the overuse of oil and sugar and their contribution to such health conditions as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other lifestyle-related health conditions.