No specific health advisory on 'Samosa and Jalebi': Govt clarifies

New Delhi: The Union government on Tuesday clarified that no specific health advisory or warning was issued regarding displays of boards mentioning the sugar and oil content in snacks such as 'samosa and jalebi' to promote healthy lifestyles and combat obesity and non-communicable diseases.

Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the government, in a post on X, said, "Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo."

Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo.#PIBFactCheck

✅This claim is #fake

✅The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on food products sold by vendors,… pic.twitter.com/brZBGeAgzs

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 15, 2025

"This claim is #fake. The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on food products sold by vendors, and has not been selective towards Indian snacks," the clarification further added.

However, PIB said, "The general advisory (issued on Monday) is a behavioural nudge to make people aware of hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products, and not specifically to any particular food product."

"The advisory is for healthier options and initiatives at workplaces and urges people to make healthier choices to cut down on excess oil and sugar towards healthy eating and living. It does not target India's rich street food culture."

The advisory prompted experts and different shades of opinion to comment on the subject.

Former Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), Milind Deora, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation, on Monday pitched for treating and regulating food items such as pizzas, burgers and doughnuts at par with samosa, jalebis and vadapav for health risks.

#WATCH | Mumbai | "If the government wants to put regulations on jalebi and samosa, then burgers, pizzas, and doughnuts should be regulated too... If we regulate small street vendors selling samosas, then eateries like McDonald's should also be regulated," says Shiv Sena MP… pic.twitter.com/7nu4iCQVHq

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2025