promoting physical activity, including using stairs, taking short exercise breaks, and encouraging walking routes within workplace

Union Health Ministry Issues Advisory to Display Oil and Sugar Boards in Workplaces Latest news:

New Delhi, July 16 – The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday issued a clarification regarding its recent health advisory encouraging the display of “Oil and Sugar Boards” in workplaces, an initiative aimed at promoting healthier dietary habits among working individuals.

In its statement, the Ministry clarified that the advisory serves as a behavioural nudge to raise awareness about the consumption of hidden fats and excess sugar in various food items and is not a directive for warning labels on specific products.

“There have been some media reports claiming that the Union Health Ministry has directed the issuance of warning labels on food products such as samosas, jalebis, and laddoos. These reports are misleading, incorrect, and baseless,” the ministry said.

The advisory does not target Indian snacks or street food culture, the Ministry emphasized. Instead, it encourages the installation of informative boards in workplace areas such as lobbies, canteens, cafeterias, and meeting rooms to promote awareness about dietary risks and support the fight against rising obesity and lifestyle-related diseases in India.

The Ministry further clarified that “the advisory is not prescriptive and does not impose any restrictions or warning labels on food items sold by vendors.” Rather, it aims to create general health awareness and foster informed choices through educational messaging.

The displayed boards are intended to remind employees about healthier food choices, such as consuming more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat options, while also promoting physical activity, including using stairs, taking short exercise breaks, and encouraging walking routes within workplace environments.

This initiative falls under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD)—a key component of the Ministry's public health strategy. The Ministry underlined that excessive consumption of oil and sugar is a major contributor to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other lifestyle-related conditions in the country.

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