The day is not far when the government will warn you on eating biscuits, samosa or jalebi with tea and there will be a warning board behind all this. The Ministry of Health has instructed all the central institutions across the country, including AIIMS of Nagpur, put ‘oil and sugar boards’, on which the amount of fat and sugar hidden in your breakfast is clearly written.
It is considered to be the first step towards seeing junk food as a serious threat like tobacco. These boards will act as a quiet but accurate warning in government institutions, which will be installed to tell people how hidden fat and sugar are present in the dishes which they consider to be part of their culture.
Junk food is as dangerous as tobacco
AIIMS Nagpur officials have confirmed this instruction. Now such warning boards will be installed in cafeteria and public places. There will also be laddus, vada pavs and pakoras under the scope of investigation. Dr. Amar Amle, President of Nagpur branch of Cardiological Society of India, said, ‘This is the beginning when the labeling of the food will be as serious as the warning of cigarettes. Sugar and trans fat are now new tobacco. People have the right to know what they are eating.
Obesity crisis deepened in the country
The internal documents of the Ministry of Health have expressed serious concern over the increasing obesity in the country. It is estimated that by 2050, 44.9 crore people in India will suffer from obesity or overweight- which will make it the second most affected country after America. At present, one in every five is a victim of an urban adult overweight. Due to increasing obesity, wrong eating and declining physical activities in children, anxiety is increasing even more.
‘Not stopping eating, but correct information is important’
Senior diabetologist Dr. Sunil Gupta said, ‘This is not a matter of stopping food. But if people know that a Gulab Jamun contains five teaspoons of sugar, then they will probably think twice. According to doctors and health experts, this step is part of a large campaign against non-infectious diseases like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, which are directly related to eating habits.
Nagpur will be one of the first cities to adopt this initiative. There will be no stop on any food, but every breathtaking breakfast will have a colorful indicator board, which will be written:
‘Eat wisely, the body of your future will be grateful to you.’
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