New Delhi, India | July 26, 2026

ICMR Junk Food Report

India’s leading public health experts have called for stronger action against junk food and sugar-sweetened beverages, warning that unhealthy eating habits are driving a surge in obesity, pre-diabetes, diabetes, and high blood pressure among children and adolescents.

According to a new policy document released by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) under the “Let’s Fix Our Food” Consortium, nearly 41 million Indian children aged 5-19 years are overweight or obese, prompting recommendations for stricter regulations, clearer food labeling, tighter advertising rules, and the possibility of a health tax on high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt (HFSS) foods.

What Are HFSS Foods?

The report classifies junk food as HFSS (High in Fat, Sugar and Salt) products.

These commonly include:

• Potato chips
• French fries
• Burgers
• Pizza
• Instant noodles
• Packaged snacks
• Cakes and pastries
• Sugary beverages
• Soft drinks
• Candy and chocolates

Such products typically contain high levels of saturated fat, trans fats, refined flour, added sugar, salt, artificial flavors, and food additives while offering limited nutritional value.

Health experts warn that frequent consumption increases the risk of:

• Childhood obesity
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Fatty liver disease
• Certain cancers later in life

Childhood Health Concerns Continue to Grow

The policy document highlights a worrying rise in nutrition-related non-communicable diseases among Indian children and adolescents.

According to the report:

• Approximately 41 million children aged 5-19 years are overweight or obese.
• Around 10% of children are estimated to have pre-diabetes.
• About 1% of adolescents are living with diabetes.
• Nearly 5% of adolescents are affected by high blood pressure.

Researchers say unhealthy diets combined with reduced physical activity are major contributors to these trends.

Ultra-Processed Food Market Has Expanded Rapidly

The report notes that India’s ultra-processed food (UPF) market has grown dramatically over the past two decades.

Key findings include:

• Market value increased from approximately US$0.9 billion in 2006 to US$37.9 billion by 2019.
• Sales of ultra-processed food products increased by nearly 150% between 2009 and 2023.

Researchers attribute much of this growth to aggressive marketing, expanding retail availability, and changing consumer lifestyles.

Advertising Plays a Major Role

According to the report, children are exposed to unhealthy food marketing through multiple channels, including:

• Television
• Social media
• Mobile applications
• Influencer marketing
• Cricket broadcasts
• Retail outlets near schools

The report states:

• Nearly 90% of advertisements on children’s television channels promote HFSS foods.
• 92.6% of surveyed parents reported easy access to junk food near schools and colleges.
• More than 80% of food advertisements during major cricket events promote unhealthy foods or sugary beverages.

Health Tax and Warning Labels Among Key Recommendations

The ICMR-NIN policy paper recommends several measures aimed at creating healthier food environments for children.

Proposed recommendations include:

• Introducing or increasing a health tax on HFSS foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Mandatory front-of-pack nutrition warning labels showing sugar, salt, and fat content.
• Stronger restrictions on advertising unhealthy foods to children.
• Limiting the sale of junk food in and around schools.
• Improving school food environments through healthier nutrition standards.

The recommendations are intended to guide policymakers. No nationwide health tax has been announced by the Government of India at this stage.

International Examples

The report highlights policy measures adopted in several countries:

• Chile reported a decline in sugary drink purchases following stricter labeling and marketing regulations.
• South Korea significantly reduced television advertising of junk food aimed at children.
• The United Kingdom introduced restrictions on advertising unhealthy foods to children.
• Norway has introduced tighter rules on digital marketing of unhealthy foods to minors.

Health Risks Linked to Common Junk Foods

Key Highlights

• ICMR-NIN recommends stronger policies to reduce children’s exposure to HFSS foods.
• Nearly 41 million Indian children aged 5-19 are overweight or obese, according to the policy document.
• Experts recommend a possible health tax on junk food and sugary beverages.
• Mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labels and tighter advertising controls are among the proposals.
• Researchers also recommend restricting junk food sales around schools.
• The recommendations have been submitted as policy guidance and do not automatically represent enacted government policy.

Research Sources & Official Reports

To strengthen the credibility and SEO value of your article, you can reference these official resources:

• ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)
• ICMR-NIN “Let’s Fix Our Food” Initiative
• Government of India Press Information Bureau – ICMR-NIN Policy Release
• World Health Organization – Food Marketing Guidelines for Children
• World Health Organization – Healthy School Food Environments Guideline