India is rolling out a bold new health initiative: popular deep-fried and sugary snacks—including samosas, jalebis, pakoras, vada pav, laddoos, and chai biscuits—will soon feature cigarette-style “oil and sugar” warning boards in central institutions like AIIMS Nagpur. These vivid posters will display calorie counts, sugar levels, and types of fats (especially trans fats), aiming to alert consumers to hidden health risks.

The move comes amid soaring rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease: nearly one in five urban adults is overweight, and projections estimate around 449 million obese Indians by 2050. Health experts have likened sugar and trans fats to “the new tobacco,” pointing to their role in non-communicable diseases. Cardiologists highlight that samosas’ trans fats raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol, accelerating atherosclerosis, while jalebis, heavy in sugar, spike glucose levels and contribute to insulin resistance, liver fat, inflammation, and even mood disorders .

Officials stress this initiative is not a ban but a push toward awareness, encouraging mindful eating through transparent labelling. This public-health effort aligns with India’s Fit India campaign, which advocates for reduced oil use and healthier lifestyles. The pilot in Nagpur may soon expand nationwide, potentially transforming how consumers perceive traditional snacks and their impact on long‑term health.