India is grappling with a surge in advertisements for foods high in fat, sugar and sodium (HFSS) and other ultra‑processed foods (UPF). Despite plans to amend advertising laws, such ads continue to target children, creating a public‑health challenge.
Key Developments
- Recent YouTube ad for a baked‑chips brand highlighted "cheese and tomato" flavour but omitted its high salt, fat and refined‑carb content.
- Film celebrities promoted multigrain cereals and biscuits that are actually high in sugar and fat, misleading consumers.
- In 2024, three transnational corporations spent US$13.2 billion on food advertising; India saw over 2 lakh junk‑food ads in a month costing about ₹170 crore.
- The City of San Francisco sued ten major UPF manufacturers for child‑targeted marketing and deceptive health claims.
- The Supreme Court (Feb 2026) affirmed the need for front‑of‑pack labelling to protect the right to health.
Important Facts
- The National Multisectoral Action Plan (NMAP) envisaged prohibiting HFSS ads, but implementation remains weak.
- The Lancet Series (Nov 2025) linked rising UPF consumption to higher rates of obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type‑2 diabetes.
- Economic Survey 2025‑26 highlighted unhealthy diets as a major concern and urged stronger regulation.
- International examples (Chile, Mexico) show that voluntary self‑regulation is ineffective, while enforceable legal measures curb unhealthy food marketing.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this issue touches upon multiple GS papers: GS3 (Economy & Social Development) – impact of food advertising on public health and fiscal policies; GS2 (Polity) – role of the Supreme Court and legislative amendments; GS4 (Ethics) – state’s duty to protect vulnerable populations under the right to health.
Way Forward
- Amend the Advertising Standards Council rules to ban HFSS/UPF ads aimed at children.
- Introduce mandatory front‑of‑pack warni