Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda delivers keynote address at FSSAI’s World Food Safety Day 2025 event, themed ‘Stop Obesity by Eating Safe and Healthy’ at NIMHANS, Bengaluru
Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda delivers keynote address at FSSAI’s World Food Safety Day 2025 event, themed ‘Stop Obesity by Eating Safe and Healthy’ at NIMHANS, Bengaluru
On the occasion of World Food Safety Day 2025, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, delivered the keynote address at a special programme themed “Stop Obesity by Eating Safe and Healthy” at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, today. Organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, the programme focused on the critical role of food safety and nutrition in preventing non-communicable diseases such as obesity, echoing Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call to promote preventive health through traditional and wholesome dietary practices.
Minister of Medical Education and Skill Development Department, Government of Karnataka, Dr. Sharanprakash R Patil, Members of Parliament, Shri Lahar Singh Siroya and Shri P C Mohan, Union Health Secretary, Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava and senior officers of the Government of India also attended the event.
In his keynote address, Shri Nadda reiterated the Prime Minister’s emphasis on preventing obesity and prioritizing wellness. Emphasizing the urgent need to address the rising burden of obesity and non-communicable diseases, Shri Nadda stated that “the awareness initiative to stop obesity is a timely step towards educating people about the health risks of poor dietary habits and encouraging them to embrace balanced, nutritious food” and underlined that “for a Viksit Bharat, a healthy India is necessary and that can be ensured through the right types of food, healthy food habits and healthy lifestyle.”
The Union Health Minister underlined the importance of safe, healthy and nutritious food along with the benefits of a balanced diet that can ensure increased immunity. Shri Nadda reaffirmed the commitment towards this year’s World Food Safety Day theme i.e. “Food Safety: Science in Action”.
Recognizing the alarming trend of rising obesity, citing the ICMR–India Diabetes (INDIAB) study, Shri Nadda stated that “from 2008 to 2020, obesity in urban, India has increased by 39.6%, while it has increased 23.1% in rural areas.” He also cited another study that projects that by 2050, 1/3 population of the country will be obese.
Underlining the challenge of unhealthy foods and dietary habits, especially in urban areas, Shri Nadda stressed that children are the most vulnerable group when it comes to adulterated foods as they are attracted towards unhealthy foods and their advertisements. To meet this challenge, he called for ensuring awareness at a young age that will bring forth better impact.
Highlighting the negative impact of ultra processed foods on health, Shri Nadda urged all to be careful of their food habits and adhere to nutritious food that brings healthy changes to one’s mind and body. He further added that “eating right is a right that one must exercise. Eating right and ensuring awareness about it, is a collective responsibility of the government, industry, academia and individuals.”
Shri Nadda urged all stakeholders to respond to the Prime Minister’s clarion call and reduce oil consumption by 10% and reduce salt intake that can be ensured through awareness towards right food habits.
Shri Nadda also commended the innovative behavioural change strategy i.e., the widespread promotion of Sugar and Oil Boards across schools, workplaces and public institutions, developed by FSSAI under the aegis of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare that serve as powerful visual advocacy tools, displaying clear, relatable information about hidden sugars and fats in everyday food items. By embedding these messages in common spaces- canteens, corridors, meeting rooms, they subtly nudge individuals to make healthier choices. He also suggested that to make the initiative more effective, calories intake should also be highlighted along with sugar and urged for incorporating awareness in the curriculum.
Emphasizing the importance of traditional foods, Shri Nadda urged all to “go for traditional foods that include foods like millets and revive them to ensure health for all.” He further highlighted the importance of informed choices and lifestyle changes and remarked that food safety habits are a continuous process that needs to be made a part of our lives and turned into a movement to ‘eat right’ while adhering to food safety norms.”
Durning her special address, Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare emphasized the importance of early sensitization and collaborative inter-sectoral action to build a culture of safe food and healthy living.
In her special address, Union Health Secretary, Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, highlighted the efforts for leveraging science, bringing surveillance and risk assessment systems to ensure safe and secure food for all. She also underlined the importance of healthy food habits and urged all the stakeholders to be vigilant and informed about food safety and avoid foods with harmful additives.
She emphasized that “the Prime Minister’s call for reducing oil consumption to stop obesity is not just a slogan, but a clarion call to adopt healthy dietary habits.” She further added that “to make India free of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it is important to eat right and eat healthy, reduce oil intake and spread the message of healthy dietary habits through united efforts of all stakeholders. Healthy food choice is not just a personal cause, but also a contribution to the cause of healthy country.”
Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India, emphasized on the importance of eating right and stopping obesity. He reiterated the Prime Minister’s call for reducing oil consumption by 10% while emphasizing on the need to make children aware about their food choices and stressed on the need of community participation to ensure healthy eating habits. He also emphasized on the importance of good and right food on cognitive functions and highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Department of School Education like incorporating Shri Anna (millets) in meals, emphasis on physical education and wellbeing to ensure healthy food habits amongst all students and teachers.
The event featured the launch of the Awareness Initiative to Stop Obesity, under FSSAI’s flagship Eat Right India programme. Drawing inspiration from the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s consistent emphasis on addressing the rising incidence of obesity in the country, the initiative aims to raise nationwide awareness about the health risks associated with obesity and non-communicable diseases. To ensure greater inclusivity and outreach, communication materials under this initiative are being developed in sign language as well as various regional languages. With a strategic mix of media outreach—including FM radio, railway audio announcements and digital platforms—the initiative seeks to build a mass movement for better nutrition and improved public health. As part of this material, a video featuring renowned chef Ranveer Brar extending his support towards Stop Obesity Campaign and urging people to reduce oil consumption was also released at the event.
The ‘Eat Right Activity Book– Your Guide to Eat Right at School’, a key resource under the Eat Right School initiative was also launched during the event. Designed to promote awareness of food safety, hygiene, and nutrition among school children, the book features engaging, age-appropriate activities across primary, middle, and high school levels. Developed by leading experts, it supports both curricular and extracurricular learning and empowers children to become early advocates for healthy eating within their schools and families.
The event was virtually attended by Shri Rajeev Bahl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DHR), Government of India; G Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO, FSSAI; Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India, Shri Satish Kumar, Chairperson Railway Board, Chairperson CBSE, Shri Rahul Singh; senior officials of Government of India; Health Secretaries of States of Karnataka, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chandigarh; Food Safety Commissioners of all States/UTs, members of Scientific Committee and Scientific Panels, FSSAI, Food Business Operators across the country, Industry Associations, Development Partners, Employees of FSSAI and State FDAs across the country.
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