More than labels: health choices

For decades, Indian activists have struggled to make nutritious foods accessible to the public, especially children. The primary obstacle: an influx of ultra-processed foods, which are laden with fat, sugar, and sodium. Warning labels on such foods are often absent or poorly displayed, leading to misleading health claims and aggressive advertisements.

Unhealthy food sold in India often surpasses what's available abroad. The stakes are high, as poor diets can lead to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and other health issues. Recently, the Supreme Court criticized the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for its lax approach to regulating misleading advertisements and insufficient warning labels on unhealthy foods.

In response, the FSSAI proposed a front-of-pack pictorial warning label for products high in certain "nutrients of concern." However, this measure still falls short of addressing critical gaps in the system. The FSSAI has also intensified its crackdown on misleading advertisements, issuing more than 150 notices to food companies.

Notably, major brands like Nestlé India, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola India, and others have withdrawn health-related claims and advertisements. Despite the regulatory efforts, Big Food continues to challenge the status quo by selling more unhealthy products in India than elsewhere. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Researchers also delve into tumour vaccines and their potential impact on cancer treatment. In other news, a new study examines childhood cancer in India, and experts discuss barriers to treatment access. Social media giant Meta reached a settlement of up to $17.1 billion with 47 U.S. states over data collection practices on children under 13 and addictive platform design.

Meanwhile, students in India have been advocating for their concerns to be prioritized, following the suicide of an IIT Delhi student. NIMHANS, a mental health institution in Bengaluru, is working to increase accessibility through an anonymous peer-support platform, Let’s Talk Life. Lastly, scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research have developed a low-cost, user-friendly diagnostic system for early Alzheimer's detection.