CLAIM: A tweet posted on X claims that samosas and jalebis will soon carry health warnings similar to cigarette packaging.
CONCLUSION: False. The advisory issued by India’s Union Health Ministry is about the display of hidden Oil or fat on Sugar Boards in workplaces, and NOT a warning label similar to cigarette packaging.
RATING: Totally False– 
**********************************************************
On July 17, 2025, a Twitter user posted an image claiming that samosas and jalebis will soon carry health warnings similar to those on cigarette packets. The tweet, which included the caption “I think this is ridiculous. Your take on this?”, implied that the Indian Health Ministry was behind this new regulation.
The image featured the text “Samosas and Jalebis to carry health warnings like cigarettes: Report” and quickly gained attention online. The post referenced an unnamed “report” and did not cite any official source, but it echoed a similar claim previously seen on Instagram, sparking confusion about whether such a directive had actually been issued.
Similar posts can be seen here:
🚨Your samosa, jalebi now under govt scanner🚨
Finally, some sense! Govt has started putting health warning boards near street food and fast food stalls 🍟🍩
Samosas, jalebis, burgers, pizzas — all under the scanner now. This should’ve happened long back. (1/8) pic.twitter.com/FYUkgMbuFc— Ashutosh Shukla (@iam_ashu07) July 15, 2025
Samosa And Jalebi May Soon Carry Cigarette-Style Health Warnings | Health Alert! #JunkFoodAlert #SamosaJalebi #PublicHealthIndia #FoodWarningLabels #FSSAI #HealthVsTaste #IndianStreetFood #FatSugarSalt #CulturalDebate #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/9PXxAE92F3
— Business Today (@business_today) July 14, 2025
FACT CHECK:
When DigitEYE India team conducted a thorough search of official government portals, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Press Information Bureau (PIB), there was no such directive, notification, or press release about the mandatory health warning on Indian snacks such as samosas and jalebis. Additionally, the PIB Fact Check unit has already debunked it as seen below:
Media reports have claimed that @MoHFW_INDIA has directed all central government institutions to issue Warning Labels on food products such as samosa, jalebi and laddoo.#PIBFactCheck
❌ This claim is Fake
✅ The Advisory does not direct carrying of Warning Labels on certain… pic.twitter.com/0OLwpwLi9H
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 16, 2025
The directive ‘Display of hidden Oil or fat on Sugar Boards in workplaces, an initiative to promote healthier dietary’ is misunderstood as Warning Labels like cigarette packaging on certain food products.
The Union Health Ministry had separately issued an advisory which is an initiative towards making healthier choices at work places. It advises about display of Boards in various workplaces such as lobbies, canteens, cafeterias, meeting rooms etc., to raise awareness on harmful consumption of hidden fats and excess sugar in various food items. These Boards are meant to serve as daily reminders on fighting obesity, the burden of which is sharply rising in the country.
The Health Ministry Advisory does not direct Warning Labels on food products sold by vendors, and has not been selective towards Indian snacks. It does not target India’s rich street food culture.
The Ministry of health and Family welfare has given a press release about this. The link can be found here.
Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo.#PIBFactCheck
✅This claim is #fake
✅The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on food products sold by vendors,… pic.twitter.com/brZBGeAgzs
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 15, 2025
The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on food products sold by vendors, and has not been selective towards Indian snacks.
Hence the claim is false.
