New Delhi: Member of Parliament and former Union Cabinet Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Monday raised concerns in the Lok Sabha over the high levels of added sugars in baby foods and soft drinks, backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warnings on obesity and calling for stricter food labelling regulations to protect public health, The News Himachal reported.
Speaking under Rule 377, Thakur highlighted the rising rates of childhood obesity, early-onset diabetes, dental problems, and other non-communicable diseases linked to excessive sugar intake. Citing global guidelines, he noted that the World Health Organisation recommends limiting free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake for adults and children, and ideally under 5%, while advising no added sugars in infant foods. However, he pointed out, some packaged baby foods in India contain nearly 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving, and soft drinks have around 10.6 grams per 100 ml.
Thakur referenced Prime Minister Modi’s remarks during the 2025 Independence Day address, where the PM described obesity as a “silent crisis” and urged families to make small dietary changes, including reducing cooking oil consumption by 10%, to improve public health. He also drew attention to the Prime Minister’s repeated emphasis in Mann Ki Baat and other addresses on adopting healthier eating habits.
While acknowledging government initiatives such as the Fit India Movement, Poshan Abhiyaan, Eat Right India, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, and Khelo India, Thakur stressed that growing consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages requires more robust policy measures.
He urged the implementation of clear, prominent, and easily understandable front-of-pack labelling systems, including pictorial warnings or star-based ratings, to highlight high sugar, salt, and unhealthy fat content. According to Thakur, such labelling would empower consumers to make informed choices and encourage manufacturers to reformulate products with healthier ingredients. He added that countries with strong front-of-pack labelling have seen improved public awareness and healthier consumption patterns.
Thakur concluded by emphasizing that monitoring and labelling sugar in foods is essential to safeguard children’s health, reduce long-term healthcare costs, and support India’s vision of a fit and healthy nation. “Protecting the nutritional well-being of future generations must be a priority for policymakers and regulators,” he said, echoing the Prime Minister’s focus on public health.
