Advertising of Pre-Packaged Foods in India: A Qualitative Analysis

Objective We examined the ‘nutrients of concern’ in pre-packaged food products that are commonly advertised, as per WHO standards and Nova Classification. Methods This was a qualitative study, using a convenience sampling method, to identify advertisements of prepackaged food products. We also analyzed their content from information on the packets, and their compliance with applicable Indian laws. Results We found that all the advertisements of the food products in this study did not provide important information about the amount of nutrients of concern i.e., total fat, sodium, and total sugars. These advertisements mostly targeted children, made health claims, and used endorsements of celebrities. All the food products were also found to be ultra-processed in nature and high in one or more nutrients of concern. Conclusion Most of the advertisements are misleading, needing effective monitoring. Health warnings on the front-of- pack label and restrictions on marketing of such food products may go a long way in reducing non-communicable diseases.