In this editorial, the author warned that while the recently signed India–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA) promises trade advantages, it also poses a serious threat to India’s public health framework. On 24 July 2025, India and the UK signed the FTA termed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) eliminating tariffs on British food and beverages such as chocolates, soft drinks, biscuits, and gingerbread.
Influx of Low‑Nutrition Foods
The author emphasized that these now tariff‑free British products are typically high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS). With cheaper prices and aggressive advertising, the editorial foreshadowed rising consumption in India, particularly among children, increasing risks of obesity, diabetes, and other non‑communicable diseases (NCDs).
Drawing on the Mexico–NAFTA experience, the author highlighted how a surge in cheap sugary drinks and snacks post‑FTA led to soaring diet‑related diseases. Mexico eventually had to implement a soda tax and mandatory warning labels but only after significant health damage had occurred.
Regulatory Gap: UK vs India
The editorial contrasted the UK’s robust public health safeguards with India’s weak regulatory environment:
- In the UK, advertising bans on HFSS products begin before 9 p.m. on television, and a full ban on paid online advertisements is scheduled. The country also uses a ‘traffic‑light’ front‑of‑pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) system to guide consumer choices.
- In India, advertising regulation depends on the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self‑regulated body with limited enforcement powers. There are no strict bans on HFSS marketing, especially those targeting children. Celebrity endorsements and cartoon branding are widespread and largely unregulated.
Labelling Delay & Industry Influence
The author lamented India’s delay in adopting mandatory warning labels. Under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2020, a front-of-pack labelling policy remains pending. Authorities appear inclined toward a star‑rating system, which is widely seen as industry-friendly, despite strong global evidence that clear warning labels are far more effective at discouraging HFSS consumption.
A 2025 Supreme Court directive underscored the urgency of public health protections, yet no definitive action has emerged even three years after the proposed amendments.
Expanding Crisis: Rising NCDs & Commercial Determinants
The author observed that India is witnessing rapid growth in lifestyle diseases. From 2011 to 2021, ultra‑processed and HFSS product sales grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 13.3%, worsening childhood obesity and diabetes rates.
He further highlighted how FTAs can act as vectors of “commercial determinants of health”, where trade policy indirectly fuels unhealthy consumption. Without safeguards, trade agreements risk becoming “Trojan horses” for NCDs, unless countered by strong public health regulations.
Author’s Prescription: Act Now
The editorial concludes with concrete policy recommendations, urging immediate action:
- Enforce statutory bans on HFSS food marketing to children particularly on television, digital platforms, and through celebrity endorsements, in line with national dietary guidelines.
- Implement mandatory front‑of‑pack warning labels (FOPNL) using clear, visible warning symbols rather than industry-favoured star ratings.
- Promote healthy school environments by banning the sale of packaged junk food in school and college canteens, and establishing HFSS health boards in educational institutions.
- Integrate public health professionals into trade negotiation processes to ensure that health safeguards are embedded in all economic agreements.
Conclusion: Economic Gains vs Health Losses
The author’s central argument is clear: while the India–UK FTA may bring economic and strategic benefits, it also carries hidden health costs that India must mitigate proactively. Without decisive regulatory measures on marketing, labelling, and school food environments, India risks repeating global mistakes that led to the proliferation of ultra‑processed HFSS foods.
In closing, the author warns that strong public health protections are not optional they are urgent. Failure to implement them now could erode the health and economic productivity of future generations, undermining the very growth the FTA seeks to promote.
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