Every Indian must make a vow to reduce salt, oil consumption by 10%: Nadda

Union Minister urges Indians to reduce salt and oil intake by 10% to combat rising obesity rates.

Every Indian must make a vow to reduce salt and oil consumption by 10%, said Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, on Saturday.

He was speaking at World Food Safety Day, 2025, organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare here on the theme ‘Stop obesity by eating safe and healthy’.

Highlighting a worrying trend, he cited an ICMR study that reported a 39.6% increase in urban obesity and a 23.1% increase in rural areas between 2008 and 2020. “By 2050, nearly a third of India’s population may be obese. This is alarming,” he warned, stressing the dangers of ultra-processed food and sedentary lifestyles.

“Our traditional food includes many types of preparations with millets. That we have to revive,” he said, highlighting the need to reduce processed food. He stressed that safe, nutritious, and balanced food is essential not only for individual well-being but for building a ‘Viksit Bharat.’ “Eat right is your right, but only you can exercise it,” he said. Mr. Nadda flagged off four initiatives to promote healthy eating habits.

Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of School Education and Literacy, highlighted the integration of food awareness into NCERT textbooks. He spoke of the inclusion of chapters on food safety and well-being from class 3 onwards, supported by the Eat Right activity book. Other measures outlined were the promotion of millets in midday meals and the introduction of the Sugar Board in CBSE schools to help students access their daily sugar intake.

The event discussed the growing spirit of competition among States with several Chief Ministers and State Health Ministries actively rolling out localised versions of the ‘Eat Right’ campaign. From awareness drives in schools to promoting millet-based meals and conducting many audits, States across the country were stepping up with creative on-ground initiatives, which are helping accelerate progress and foster innovation in public health strategies, the participants in the event noted.