FSSAI endorsed this topic during its 47th Central Advisory Committee meeting on May 27, 2025, urging states to implement sugar boards widely.
Why is this coming all of a sudden? How can sugar become a problem?
Because Indian children aged 4-10 get 13% of calories from sugar, and 11-18 year-olds get 15%, exceeding WHO's 5% limit.
Sugar has always been a part of our diet. We have sweets during festivals, desserts after meals, cakes and chocolates for celebration, so how can it increase the intake of sugar?
The routined sweet eating has not changed, but what has increased is the frequency of eating it.
NCPCR's advisory specifies boards showing daily recommended intake (25g for kids) versus sugar in common foods. FSSAI's 2020 rules already banned high-sugar sales near schools, but enforcement was weak until this push.
Today there are packaged juices, flavored milk, energy drinks, breakfast cereals, biscuits, and more. Where sugar intake is no more occasional, but has become constant and a regular part of the day.
And this shift is worrying.
PM Narendra Modi addressed obesity and oil use primarily in the 119th episode of Mann Ki Baat on February 23, 2025, framing obesity as a national crisis requiring collective action.
The urban lifestyles, reduced physical activity, and easy access to processed foods have made this a topic of concern.
This is why Sugar Boards were created where CBSE directed over 24,000 affiliated schools to install sugar boards by July 15, 2025, following NCPCR recommendations on rising Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and dental issues in children.
An informational display installed in schools, maybe near canteens or common areas, that specifies all sugar-related health information. The purpose is to make kids aware about the recommended daily sugar intake, sugar levels in common snacks, and the health consequences of overconsption.
A well designed Sugar Board would include a clear mention of how much sugar children should consume daily. It is often represented in teaspoon visuals as to how many teaspoons are there in soft drinks, packaged fruit juices, chocolates, biscuits, icecream, etc.
As per the World Health Organisation, both adults and children should reduce free sugar to less than 10% of total daily energy intake, and the ideal state would be to keep it below 5%. And according to this children should intake around 6 teaspoons that roughly estimates to 25 grams.
And just one regular drink. ONE REGULAR DRINK. One regular drink can exceed this amount in a single serving. And it does not even come under sweets.
Sugar is somewhere hidden in flavored yogurts, breakfast cereals, ketchup, packaged juices, energy drinks, and even in the ones tagged as “health drinks”.
Many children (and adults) consume far more sugar than they realize. The worst part is that this is not done intentionally but because they are not even aware of what is happening to them. This is exactly what Sugar Boards aim to address.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued an advisory that schools should install Sugar Boards on their campuses.
The objective was not to ban sugar but inform individuals, make them aware, on what amount of sugar they are consuming. If children are made aware of the consequences of consuming the products they are, it will help them make healthier choices.
So schools have been asked to display the recommended sugar daily intake for children, the amount of sugar content in commonly consumed foods and beverages, and health risks that come with excess sugar consumption.
Schools create an environment where awareness becomes habitual.
Ultimately, the goal is not restriction. It is literacy.
Because when children become aware of the consequences they can make healthy decisions wisely and that is where meaningful change will begin.
No. They focus on awareness and moderation rather than prohibition.
A Sugar Board can be created by displaying WHO-recommended sugar limits, teaspoon equivalents of common snacks, health risks of overconsumption, and clear awareness messages in a visible school area.
It leads to awareness of the ill-effects of high sugar consumption that will improve health literacy and encourage kids to make informed food choices.
All school-age children benefit, especially those between 6–16 years when habits are forming.
They are a starting point. Maximum impact occurs when combined with nutrition education and healthier food policies.
