New Delhi, February 9, 2026
Former Union Minister and MP Anurag Singh Thakur raised a serious public health issue in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377, highlighting the high levels of added sugar in baby foods and soft drinks sold in India.
He urged the government to enforce strict monitoring of sugar content and introduce bold, clear front-of-pack labelling to better inform consumers, especially parents.
Citing World Health Organization guidelines, Thakur noted that free sugar intake should remain below 10% of total daily energy consumption, ideally under 5%, and that infant foods should contain no added sugar.
However, some packaged baby foods reportedly contain around 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving, while several soft drinks have about 10.6 grams per 100 ml. He warned that excessive sugar consumption is contributing to rising childhood obesity, early diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day 2025 address, where obesity was described as a “silent crisis,” Thakur said the Prime Minister’s call to reduce cooking oil consumption by 10% reflects the need for healthier food habits. He also mentioned ongoing national initiatives such as Fit India Movement, Poshan Abhiyaan, Eat Right India, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and Khelo India, aimed at promoting preventive healthcare and better nutrition.
Thakur called for easy-to-understand labelling systems, including pictorial warnings or star ratings, to clearly indicate high sugar, salt, and unhealthy fat content. He said such measures would empower consumers, encourage healthier product reformulation, and align India with global best practices in food regulation.
He concluded that stronger action on sugar monitoring and labelling is vital to protect children’s health and build a fitter, healthier India.
