3 months ago
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Raichur Lok Sabha subordinate G. Kumar Naik has expressed interest implicit what helium described arsenic the Union government’s “procedural and non-committal” effect to issues relating to High-Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) foods and Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs), stating that cardinal argumentation questions stay unanswered contempt mounting nationalist wellness evidence.
In a media enactment released connected February 18, Mr. Naik said the government’s written reply to his question successful the Lok Sabha acknowledged the regulatory model successful spot but did not outline a factual nationalist strategy to curb rising UPF depletion .
Mr. Naik had sought clarity connected whether the Centre was considering a broad nationalist strategy to code the increasing depletion of UPFs, including stronger front-of-pack informing labels, restrictions connected selling to children, reformulation guidelines and coordinated fiscal measures. However, according to him, the effect offered “no timeline, nary roadmap and nary denotation of inter-ministerial coordination”.
Citing information from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), helium noted that non-communicable diseases relationship for implicit 57% of deaths successful India, and dietary risks linked to ultra-processed foods person been identified arsenic a increasing nationalist wellness and economical concern. He besides referred to the Economic Survey 2025-26, which recognised the risks associated with UPFs and recommended shifting them to the highest GST slab and replacing the existing wellness prima standing strategy with wide front-of-pack informing labels.
“In a uncommon lawsuit of wide consensus, 29 organisations endorsed the proposal for stronger informing labels. Yet, determination is small clarity connected the adjacent steps,” helium said.
Mr. Naik pointed retired that retail income of ultra-processed foods had accrued dramatically, from $0.9 cardinal successful 2006 to astir $38 cardinal successful 2019, portion obesity rates astir doubled during the aforesaid period. “The numbers bespeak a structural displacement successful dietary patterns, with superior semipermanent consequences,” helium observed.
On the taxation front, helium noted that aerated drinks, including no-sugar and low-sugar variants, presently pull 28% GST on with 12% compensation cess, taking the effectual taxation complaint to 40%. He said that the GST Council’s betterment successful September 2025 removed the compensation cess but near the wide taxation load unchanged astatine 40%, portion expanding moving superior pressures for tiny traders.
“The broader question remains: if authoritative reports recognise dietary risks arsenic a mounting wellness and economical challenge, what follows from that recognition?” helium asked.
Mr. Naik stressed the request for coherence betwixt wellness advisories, taxation policy, nutrient regularisation and norms relating to children’s consumption. “Without alignment crossed these domains, the emergence of ultra-processed foods volition proceed to beryllium addressed lone done campaigns and compliance measures, adjacent arsenic the information points successful a antithetic direction,” helium said.
