India has emerged as a global leader in public health policy with its successful and mandatory elimination of industrial trans-fats from the food supply. This significant achievement, highlighted in the latest UNICEF Child Nutrition Report 2025, is not just a national victory but a powerful, proactive model for other nations striving to combat diet-related non-communicable diseases.
For decades, industrial trans-fats have been a silent killer, contributing to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths globally each year due to heart disease. In India, the burden was particularly severe, with an estimated 71,000 deaths annually attributed to high trans-fat intake. Recognizing the grave threat this posed to the nation’s health, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) embarked on a phased and determined journey to tackle the issue.
The FSSAI’s strategy culminated in a landmark move in 2022, when India became the first lower-middle-income country to fully implement a mandatory 2% limit for industrial trans-fats in all edible oils and fats. This policy aligns directly with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended best practice, which aims to limit trans-fat to less than 2 grams per 100 grams of total fat in all foods.
This proactive measure has provided a crucial shield to a massive population of approximately 1.4 billion people from the harmful impacts of trans-fats. It demonstrates that with strong political will and a clear regulatory framework, it is possible to protect public health on a large scale. The policy’s success is a testament to the power of mandatory regulations over voluntary measures, which have often proven to be less effective.
India’s success serves as an aspirational model for other nations, particularly those in the Global South, facing a similar rise in diet-related illnesses. The WHO has identified trans-fat elimination as a highly cost-effective intervention for low- and middle-income countries to prevent and control non-communicable diseases. By implementing this policy, India has not only safeguarded its own population but has also positioned itself as a global leader in proactive food reformulation.
The journey wasn’t without its challenges. The report notes that the ultra-processed food and beverage industry often resists policies aimed at improving public health. However, India’s experience proves that with strong government-led action and support from civil society, such pushback can be overcome. This victory provides valuable lessons for future policy efforts, including those currently being considered to address other unhealthy ingredients like sugar and sodium. India’s commitment to creating a healthier food environment is a crucial step towards ensuring a healthier and more prosperous future for all its citizens.
– Rithvisha Kiran
