New Delhi: Now clear warnings regarding health will have to be written on the boxes of junk food which give the lure of spicy taste as soon as the packet is opened, otherwise the court itself will decide on its path. Regarding the rapidly increasing obesity epidemic in the country, the Supreme Court has given only two weeks time to the Central Government in a strict tone to prepare a policy to put mandatory warning labels on packaged junk food. Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran's bench said in a clear tone in this case that no laxity can be tolerated on the issue related to health and nutritional security of the citizens, and if the government itself does not take concrete steps, then the court will have to issue strict instructions.
The rate of obesity in children is five times faster
This whole issue started with a petition by the non-governmental organization '3S and Our Health Society', in which packaged products with poor nutrition cited the deteriorating public health.
Advocate Rajeev Shankar Dwivedi, appearing for the petitioner, argued before the court that despite earlier directions of the Supreme Court, no concrete policy initiative has been taken by the government so far.
Court enraged at the argument of developed countries
During the hearing, when the Central Government argued that it is not practical to implement strict standards like developed countries in India, the court expressed strong displeasure over it. Justice Pardiwala bluntly asked whether this should be interpreted to mean that India should always remain an underdeveloped country. The bench directly linked this entire issue to the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution and termed it a matter of basic security of the citizens. Statistics also justify this concern, in the year 2000, the obesity rate among school children and adolescents was only 2 percent, which reached 10 percent by 2022, that is, this figure has increased more than five times in the last two decades.
150% jump in ultra-processed food business
Recent Economic Survey data also highlights the seriousness of this picture. According to the survey, between 2009 and 2023, there has been an increase of more than 150 percent in the trade of ultra-processed foods in the country. These products, loaded with excessive salt, sugar, saturated fat and calories, are becoming the biggest causes of heart diseases, diabetes and premature obesity. The court clarified in its comment that whenever a consumer buys goods from a shop, the nutritional warning should be clearly visible on the front of the packet, so that he can take the right and informed decision for the health of himself and his family.