Should Jalebis Come with a Warning Label as Cigarettes?

KAKALI DAS

As Indians, food is more than just something we eat. It is a part of our identity. We love dishes like dosas, biryanis, and parathas. At weddings and festivals, it is common to enjoy pakoras and jalebis.

These foods are not just tasty treats; they are connected to our culture, how we celebrate, and how we welcome each other. Food plays a big role in our history and traditions.

But recently, these beloved snacks have become the focus of a nationwide health debate. The question being asked is surprising – are jalebis as unhealthy as cigarettes?

This debate began on June 21 when the Union Health Ministry issued an advisory. It was not a ban or a strict rule, but a letter asking government offices to put up visual boards called “sugar and oil boards” in cafeterias and lobbies. These boards would warn people buying food about the hidden fats and extra sugar in what they eat. The goal was simple: to make people more aware of what goes into their food.

However, soon after, the media started reporting that samosas and jalebis would have warning labels on their packages, similar to the warning labels on cigarette packs. This caused some confusion and concern. The Health Ministry quickly clarified that this was just an advisory and not a directive. They said it was not meant to target India’s rich and vibrant street food culture.

Sanctuary to Prison: Women’s Rights Under Taliban Rule!

This sparked discussions among health experts with different opinions. For example, Dr. Amar Amale from the Cardiological Society of India said that sugar and trans fats are the new tobacco. He believes people deserve to know what they are eating and supported the idea of food labeling.

On the other hand, nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar asked, “What have samosas and jalebis done wrong?” She argued that the government should first focus on ultra-processed packaged foods such as colas, chips, and cookies, instead of traditional homemade snacks. This is an important point because ultra-processed foods are often full of sugar, salt, and fat, and they are made to appear healthy.

For example, some biscuits that look like a good snack for tea actually contain artificial colours, preservatives, and other chemicals that may harm our health, metabolism, and digestion.

To understand why this debate is happening, we need to look at some numbers. Childhood obesity in India has increased by 126% over the past 15 years. Adult obesity has more than doubled, growing from 18 crore people in 2021 to an expected 45 crore by 2050. This is worrying because obesity leads to many diseases, such as diabetes and heart problems, which put extra pressure on the country’s healthcare system.

In 2019 alone, India spent almost 29 billion dollars treating illnesses caused by obesity, and these costs are rising.

So what has changed about our eating habits? One big factor is the fast food industry, which is booming. In 2024, the fast food market in India is worth about 19 billion dollars and is expected to double by 2033.

Several reasons explain this growth. Urbanization means many people now live in busy cities. Disposable incomes have increased, and many families have two working parents, leaving less time to cook at home.

With smartphones and apps, people can order food whenever they want. As a result, cooking at home has decreased, and ordering processed, fried, or restaurant food has become common.

Given these changes, how can the government help regulate what people eat? Recently, in July, the Supreme Court asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider introducing a “front-of-pack” nutrition label, possibly using a health star rating. This would mean putting a simple rating or label on the front of food packages to help consumers quickly understand how healthy or unhealthy the food is.

Currently, the nutritional information is only on the back of packages, and many people either do not see it or find it hard to understand.

However, many consumer protection experts say that the health star rating system may not work well in India. This is because many people cannot read English well, and even those who can may find the details confusing or hidden. A better idea, suggested by George Cherian of the Consumer Protection Association, is to use a system like the one in Chile, which uses simple black warning signs on food packages.

Chile’s system places a black stop sign on foods that have high levels of sugar, salt, or fat. For example, if a 100-gram packet of food contains more than 10% sugar, sodium, or fat, it gets a black warning label that is easy to understand, even for people who cannot read.

Chile introduced this system between 2016 and 2019, giving food companies time to reduce unhealthy ingredients or add the warning label. Products with the black stop sign cannot be marketed to children under 14. Because of this clear labelling, people in Chile better understood the health risks and sales of unhealthy foods dropped. This model has inspired other countries like Argentina, Mexico, and Peru to adopt similar labelling systems.

Now, let’s look back at the debate between samosas and packaged foods. Does packaged food deserve better labelling in India? Many would say yes. Packaged foods are often full of trans fats, sugars, and salt.

There have been cases where the same product has less sugar and salt in Europe because regulations there are stricter, but the Indian versions have more because of weaker rules. Even baby food can have unhealthy ingredients in India if no one is closely watching. These foods are mass-produced and marketed to appear healthy, such as breakfast cereals claiming to be high fiber, but actually containing a lot of sugar.

Having front-of-pack warning labels would help people easily spot unhealthy packaged foods and decide not to buy them. But what about samosas and jalebis? Some argue that samosas are not necessarily unhealthy because they are usually made fresh, and the ingredients, like potatoes and oil, are visible.

The key issue is not the food itself but how often and how much we eat, along with our overall lifestyle. Eating one samosa occasionally is very different from eating many samosas daily combined with little exercise.

Another important issue in India is hygiene. Many people choose packaged food because they believe it is cleaner and safer than street food. Street food is often exposed to dust, flies, and sometimes made with reused or low-quality oil. This concern about hygiene pushes people toward packaged foods, even if those foods are less healthy.

At the same time, there is cultural sensitivity. Traditional Indian foods are part of our heritage. Some may feel it is unfair or even disrespectful to put warning labels on these foods. Also, many Indian snacks are sold loose in markets, so it is difficult to put labels on them.

This raises the question: would blanket warnings on street food create cultural bias or make Indian foods seem bad? It is a difficult balance to strike.

In conclusion, packaged foods definitely need better labelling in India. A system like Chile’s black stop sign could work well because it is easy to understand for everyone, regardless of language.

This could help protect children and reduce health problems caused by unhealthy foods. At the same time, India must find ways to address the challenges with street food hygiene and quality. This could include better rules on the oil used, food preparation, and cleanliness of vendors.

Finally, it is important to educate people that if they want to enjoy foods like samosas, they should do so in moderation. Eating one samosa every two weeks or once a month is not harmful if the rest of the diet is balanced and the person stays active. The overall lifestyle and eating habits matter more than just one snack.

So, what do you think? Should the government focus first on regulating ultra-processed packaged foods? Do you believe the Chilean model is something India should adopt? When it comes to Indian street food, do you think the bigger issue is hygiene or the food content itself? How should the government and people work together to keep our food healthy without losing our rich food culture?

These questions are important because food connects us to who we are. Finding a balance between health, tradition, and enjoyment is key for India’s future.

Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking. You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com (For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary) Images from different sources.