India is witnessing an alarming rise in lifestyle diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. While these illnesses are often blamed on stress, genetics, or modern living, a deeper and far more disturbing reality is emerging — these diseases are not increasing naturally; they are being systematically fed to the population.
At the centre of this crisis lies the unchecked consumption of packaged and ultra-processed foods. From breakfast cereals and snacks to ready-to-eat meals and beverages, these products are aggressively marketed with glossy labels, health claims, and misleading nutritional promises. However, if these items were subjected to independent and honest testing, very few would pass stringent international benchmarks such as FDA (US) or European food safety standards.
Behind the attractive packaging often lies substandard raw material, imbalanced ingredient ratios, and potentially harmful additives — including excess sugar, salt, trans fats, artificial preservatives, colourants, and flavour enhancers. These substances, consumed daily over years, silently damage the human body, paving the way for chronic illnesses.
The more troubling aspect is that this is not accidental. Experts and activists point towards an institutionalised nexus where food adulteration and regulatory violations are enabled through systemic loopholes. Certifications are reportedly easy to obtain, inspections are often limited to paperwork, and penalties — when imposed — are minimal or negotiable. Enforcement exists largely on paper, while accountability remains absent.
India’s primary food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is under growing scrutiny. Critics allege regulatory apathy, compromised oversight, and failure to protect public health. Inspections remain sporadic, sample reports stay buried in files, and decisive action is replaced by press statements and circulars.
The consequences are stark: corporations continue to post profits, officials remain protected, and ordinary citizens land in hospitals.
Investigative efforts are now underway to expose this organised failure. Records related to food licenses, inspection reports, certifications, and regulatory decisions are being examined. Sources indicate that names, signatures, and documented responsibility will soon be made public.
This is no longer just a warning — it is a call for accountability. The era of excuses is ending. What is at stake is not just regulatory reform, but the health and future of millions of Indians.
