The Supreme Court has taken a firm stance regarding packaged food products, ruling that they must carry warning labels, and has issued an ultimatum of two weeks to the central government.
According to the article, the problem of obesity among children and adults has increased fivefold over the last twenty years. Between 2000 and 2022, the rate of obesity among schoolchildren and adolescents rose from 2% to 10%. Considering a public petition on this matter, the Court emphasized that no compromises can be made regarding people's health.
The Court demanded that the central government immediately comply with its order to place warning labels directly on the front of fast food packaging, providing two weeks for this. The Court stated that if the government does not take these measures independently, it will issue further directives. The Court rejected the central government's arguments that achieving international standards, especially those of developed countries, is impossible, by questioning whether India should remain an underdeveloped country.
Judges J.B. Pardivala and K. Vinod Chandran linked the issue of food security to the right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court noted that if the government complies with the requirements voluntarily, it would be a positive step.
This ruling was issued in response to a public petition filed by the non-governmental organization '3S and Our Health Society'. The petitioner's lawyer, Rajiv Shankar Dwivedi, pointed out that years have passed since the Supreme Court's ruling, but the government has taken no action while people's health continues to deteriorate due to fast food consumption.
The Court issued this decision at a time when the government apparently showed no desire to implement warning labels on fast food products. The Supreme Court stressed that products high in salt, sugar, saturated fats, and calories can pose a threat to health. Therefore, it is crucial to display clear nutritional information to help consumers make healthier choices.
According to the Economic Survey for 2025-26, the market for ultra-processed foods in India grew by more than 150% between 2009 and 2023, while obesity, according to estimates, increased fivefold.