India's Kids Targeted: Experts Demand Junk Food Ad Ban

Leading Indian medical professionals and public health experts have issued a joint statement urging the government to enact decisive measures against the marketing of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs). They specifically advocate for a 6 am to 11 pm advertising watershed, mandatory front-of-pack warning labels, and restrictions on celebrity endorsements and child-directed promotions. The statement highlights that aggressive and misleading advertising contributes to India's growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases, especially among the youth. India's Economic Survey 2025-26 echoed these concerns, suggesting a similar advertising ban and stronger warning labels.

The urgency is underscored by alarming statistics: 24% of Indian women and 23% of men aged 15-49 were overweight or obese in 2019-21, with childhood overweight increasing. The World Health Organization confirms that food marketing significantly influences children's food preferences and dietary intake. Countries like Chile have demonstrated the effectiveness of integrated food policies, showing dramatic reductions in children's exposure to unhealthy food advertising and subsequent decreases in sugar and fat consumption after implementing warning labels and marketing restrictions.

Experts emphasize that India's policy must be media-neutral, encompassing television, digital platforms, and social media. Key recommendations include clear definitions for HFSS and UPFs, a ban on child-directed persuasion tactics like cartoons and celebrity endorsements, cleaning up school canteens by removing unhealthy options, and implementing genuinely visible warning labels. Independent enforcement is also deemed crucial for the regulations to be effective. The collective effort aims to create an environment where healthy eating is promoted and supported at all levels.