India boosts nutrition budget and cracks down on ultra-processed food crisis

India is set to strengthen food security, nutrition, and healthcare through its 2025–26 budget. The government aims to support nutrition under the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 initiative, while tackling the rising rates of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Nutrition Insight examines the nation’s plans and efforts. 

The Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 program was created to tackle malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers by creating a “convergent ecosystem.” The method involves shifting nutrition content and delivery and promoting health, wellness, and immunity programs.

The government reveals the program’s importance as it provides nutritional support to over eight crore (80 million) children, one crore (ten million) pregnant women and lactating mothers, and about 20 lakhs (two million) adolescent girls in aspirational districts and the northeast region.

For healthcare, Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance minister, says she will help set up 200 Day Care Cancer Centers while promoting medical tourism and exempting 36 lifesaving drugs from basic customs duty.

Tackling unhealthy UPFs

With increasing scrutiny of UPFs’ negative health effects, the Indian government is considering stricter food regulations. Actions include advertising restrictions, warning labels, school-based education, and a potential “health tax.”

Meanwhile, government initiatives like Eat Right India and the Fit India Movement are in the spotlight as they aim to promote healthier food choices.

India is facing nutritionally misleading product advertisements, according to the new economic survey 2024–25.India is facing nutritionally misleading product advertisements, according to the new economic survey 2024–25: “The huge business of UPF segments has been built on hyper-palatability of food items and marketing strategies involving misleading advertisements and celebrity endorsements targeting consumer behavior.”

“Often unhealthy packaged food items are advertised and marketed as healthy products. For example, breakfast cereals, tetra pack juices, and chocolate malt drinks, often advertised as healthy and nutritious, come under the category of UPF based on their ingredients.”

The survey also suggests the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India consider bringing UPFs under regulation with a clear definition and standards and increase labeling requirements.

“Improved monitoring of branded products to ensure compliance would help build consumer confidence. A 22-country study established that self-regulation has not been very effective in this regard. Further, consumer protection efforts can be strengthened to deal with aggressive marketing and distribution practices and misleading nutrition claims in advertising, especially when they are targeted toward children and youth,” details the survey. 

“A higher tax rate for UPFs may also be considered as a ‘health tax’ measure targeted specifically at brands/products that advertise. There is a need to generate greater awareness of the adverse impact of the consumption of UPFs through campaigns targeted at schools and colleges alongside existing health and lifestyle campaigns of the governments.”

The survey points to countries like Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Mexico, Israel, Peru, the UK, and Uruguay, which have implemented the Nutrient Profile Model for labeling and restricting marketing.

It also suggests better education on ingredients in packaged foods and making healthy food choices part of the school curriculum. It is consumer awareness that motivates UPF brands to make healthier products.

The survey adds: “Efforts also need to be directed to promote local and seasonal fruits and vegetables and facilitate positive subsidies for healthy foods such as whole foods, millet, fruits, and vegetables to improve their availability, affordability, and consumption.”

The Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 program provides nutritional support to children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, and adolescent girls.State activities for improving nutrition

The government has also spotlighted initiatives strengthening food security and nutrition that have improved nutrition for minority populations, such as: 

• Public Distribution System (PDS): Managing scarcity through the distribution of foodgrains at affordable prices.
• PM Poshan (Poshan Shakti Nirman) Scheme: Improve school enrollment, attendance, and retention by offering nutritional support to primary school children.
• PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME): Offer financial, technical, and business support for upgrading existing microfood processing enterprises and establishing new units.
• Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI): Offers financial incentives to promote Indian food brands abroad, assisting branding and marketing efforts in global markets.
• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): Distributed free-of-cost foodgrains over 28 months.
• Poshan Abhiyaan: Aims to improve the nutritional status of children, adolescents, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, reduce stunting and wasting in children, and lower anemia in women, children, and adolescent girls.