Health Ministry: oil and sugar boards advisory is a nudge, not warning labels on snacks
On 15 July 2025, the Union Health Ministry clarified that its advisory to display Oil and Sugar Boards at workplaces does not direct warning labels on food products such as samosa, jalebi and laddoo.
Summary
The Union Health Ministry said on 15 July 2025 that media reports claiming it had directed warning labels on food products such as samosa, jalebi and laddoo were misleading and baseless. The ministry's advisory asks for Oil and Sugar Boards to be displayed in workplaces such as lobbies, canteens, cafeterias and meeting rooms as behavioural nudges on hidden fats and excess sugar, to help fight rising obesity. The ministry said the advisory does not target Indian snacks or street food culture.
Key facts
- Date
- 15 July 2025
- Advisory
- Display Oil and Sugar Boards at workplaces (lobbies, canteens, cafeterias, meeting rooms)
- Purpose
- Behavioural nudge on hidden fats and excess sugar; fight obesity
- Clarification
- No warning labels on food products; does not target Indian snacks
Practice MCQs 1 questions
Consider the following statements about the Union Health Ministry's clarification of 15 July 2025: 1. The ministry's advisory asks for display of Oil and Sugar Boards at workplaces as a behavioural nudge. 2. The advisory directs vendors to put warning labels on samosa, jalebi and laddoo. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (MoHFW): the advisory is about displaying Oil and Sugar Boards in workplaces as a behavioural nudge, so 1 is correct; it does not direct warning labels on food products sold by vendors, so 2 is wrong.