Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Health This topic is crucial for UPSC as it addresses public health, policy implementation, and socioeconomic implications relevant to governance. |
| Context: |
| ● The article highlights India’s nutritional transition towards unhealthy diets, emphasising policy interventions to combat rising junk food consumption and promote healthier lifestyles. |
Nutrition Transition in India:
- Shift in Dietary Patterns: India is undergoing a significant nutrition transition marked by a shift from traditional, fiber-rich diets to processed, high-calorie Western-style diets, coinciding with economic progress and urbanisation.
- Rise of Junk Food Consumption: Rapid economic growth and urbanisation have led to increased consumption of packaged and processed foods, termed “junk foods,” which are low in nutrients but high in calories, fats, salt, and sugar.
- Health Implications: Scientific evidence links junk food consumption to weakened immune systems, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and increased cancer risk, contributing to the rise of lifestyle diseases in India.
Government Initiatives and Concerns:
- Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court of India emphasised the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution concerning public health hazards posed by unsafe food.
- Government Initiatives: Government initiatives like Eat Right India, the Fit India Movement, and Poshan 2.0 prioritise promoting healthy foods and active lifestyles.
- Regulatory Measures: FSSAI regulations restrict the sale of High in Fats, Salts, and Sugars (HFSS) foods in school environments.
- Concerns: Despite policy intentions, effective implementation remains a challenge, necessitating further action.
Strategies for Change:
Clear Definition of HFSS Foods:
- Define HFSS foods to enable better implementation of food safety regulations, focusing on protecting children from harmful impacts.
- Strengthen compliance through stricter enforcement by institutions like the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL):
- Implement FOPL, such as warning labels indicating high salt content, to facilitate informed consumer choices.
- Introduce Indian Nutrition Rating (INR) based on nutritional profiles to guide consumers, addressing concerns of potential loopholes and voluntary compliance.
Subsidies for Healthy Foods:
- Develop policies offering subsidies for healthy foods like whole foods, millets, fruits, and vegetables to improve availability and affordability.
- Address the challenge of making nutritious foods more economically competitive than unhealthy alternatives.
Behavioural Change Campaigns:
- Launch multimedia campaigns targeting children and young adults to promote healthy dietary habits.
- Utilise initiatives like “vocal for local” to endorse local and seasonal produce and traditional foods, alongside educational efforts on balanced diets.
- Engage social media influencers to mainstream discussions about the health risks of junk foods and promote mindful eating practices.
Call to Action:
- Acknowledge the urgency of transitioning to healthier diets and fostering public demand for nutritious foods.
- Embrace a “Jan Andolan” or people’s movement for healthy and diverse diets, accompanied by sincere policy interventions to empower informed food choices.
Conclusion:
- Addressing the challenges posed by unhealthy dietary habits in India requires a multifaceted approach encompassing regulatory measures, consumer awareness campaigns, and policy interventions to promote access to and consumption of nutritious foods.
| Other measures that can be taken to curb junk food consumption |
● Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch nationwide campaigns highlighting the health risks associated with excessive junk food consumption, targeting both adults and children. ● Nutrition Education in Schools: Integrate comprehensive nutrition education into school curricula to instil healthy eating habits from a young age. ● Taxation Policies: Implement taxes on high-calorie, low-nutrient foods to discourage consumption and generate revenue for health initiatives. ● Advertising Restrictions: Enforce regulations limiting the marketing and advertising of junk food, especially targeting children through media channels. ● Promotion of Healthy Alternatives: Encourage the availability and affordability of nutritious alternatives in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. ● Menu Labelling Requirements: Mandate clear nutritional information on menus and packaging to enable informed consumer choices. ● Community Engagement Programs: Establish community-driven initiatives promoting local, sustainable, and healthy food options. ● Support for Local Farmers: Provide incentives and support for local farmers to produce and distribute fresh, healthy produce, reducing reliance on processed foods. ● Collaboration with the Food Industry: Collaborate with food manufacturers to reformulate products to reduce harmful ingredients and improve nutritional quality. ● Incentives for Healthy Eating: Introduce subsidies or incentives for individuals and families purchasing and consuming nutritious foods, making them more economically accessible. |
| PYQ: How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack or availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India? (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2018) |
| Practice Question: Discuss the challenges posed by the nutritional transition in India towards unhealthy diets and the role of policy interventions in promoting healthier lifestyles. (250 Words /15 marks) |
