India Unveils Policy Roadmap for Healthier Diets Among Children and Adolescents

The ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition-led Let’s Fix Our Food Consortium has released a national policy document proposing measures to improve the food environments and dietary habits of children and adolescents. Titled Priority Policy Actions to Promote Healthier Diets and Food Environments for Children and Adolescents in India, the document was launched by NITI Aayog Member for Health Dr M. Srinivas at a dissemination and consultation workshop in New Delhi on July 22, 2026.

The publication draws upon nearly three years of multidisciplinary research, consultations and policy discussions. It recommends coordinated action across schools, food regulation, taxation, public communication and nutrition education to address rising levels of childhood overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases. The document serves as a policy roadmap and does not itself introduce new statutory regulations.

A major priority is the creation of healthier school food environments. The recommendations call for stronger nutrition literacy, improved access to healthy foods and regular assessment of the food environment surrounding students. The Consortium also launched the Nutrition Environment Assessment Toolkit for Schools, or NEAT-S, to help evaluate school-level conditions and guide future interventions.

The policy proposals include clearer front-of-pack nutrition labels, regulation of unhealthy food marketing directed at children, reduction of excessive salt intake, promotion of healthier dietary fats and consideration of low-sodium salt substitutes. They also explore fiscal measures such as taxation of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, alongside incentives that make healthier food choices more accessible and affordable.

The document places particular emphasis on protecting children from commercial and environmental influences that encourage unhealthy eating. It recommends social and behavioural communication campaigns, greater youth participation in policymaking and stronger educational resources to help young consumers understand food labels, sugar, salt and dietary fats.

The Let’s Fix Our Food Consortium brings together ICMR-NIN, UNICEF India, Resolve to Save Lives, the Public Health Foundation of India, WHO, FSSAI, the World Food Programme, IFPRI, Lady Irwin College, Deakin University and several other Indian and international institutions. Through research, advocacy and stakeholder engagement, the platform seeks to translate nutrition evidence into practical public-health policy.

The initiative reflects India’s changing nutrition challenge, in which undernutrition continues to require attention while obesity and unhealthy dietary patterns increasingly affect children and adolescents. Its recommendations seek to build an environment where healthier choices are supported through school systems, food labelling, responsible advertising, fiscal policy and informed public participation.

Reference
Press Information Bureau
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

“ICMR-NIN-led ‘Let’s Fix Our Food’ Consortium Releases Policy Priorities
to Promote Healthier Diets for Children and Adolescents”

Published: 22 July 2026, 6:03 PM
Release ID: 2287856

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2287856&reg=48&lang=1

Policy briefs:
https://letsfixourfood.org/LFOF-policy-brief.php