Samosa, Jalebi & Vada Pav to Carry Health Warnings, Just Like Cigarettes
AIIMS Nagpur launched a campaign showing health warning boards on junk food, like cigarettes, to make people aware of unhealthy eating.
AIIMS Nagpur has started a new health campaign on 14th July 2025, asking people to treat junk food like cigarettes.
In this campaign, all food stalls and cafeterias in Nagpur will now show special “oil and sugar boards” near popular snacks like samosas, jalebis, vada pav, and chai biscuits. These boards will tell people exactly how much oil, sugar, and unhealthy fats are in the food. The idea is to make people aware of what they are eating, just like the warning labels on cigarette packets.
This campaign is supported by the Ministry of Health, ICMR, and the National Institute of Nutrition. It will soon expand to other places like government offices, colleges, hospitals, and canteens across India.
Doctors from AIIMS Nagpur said that refined sugar, maida, and trans fats are as harmful as tobacco. They believe that too much junk food is causing diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. This is not a ban, but the goal is to inform people about the risks of their favorite snacks.
However, nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar does not agree. She says comparing samosas and jalebis to cigarettes is wrong. According to her, cold drinks and chips from big companies are more harmful and should be targeted first.
With this new step, India hopes to reduce lifestyle diseases and promote better eating habits under the Fit India Movement. But the debate continues – should we avoid traditional snacks or focus on stopping ultra-processed food first?
