Finally! The Indian Supreme Court has stated that personalities that endorse consumer products have a duty to ensure the products are neither misleading or harmful to the consumer.
So.. let’s start with Colas and Sugary drinks. 10% if Indians have diabetes, and 50% diabetics don’t know they have it! The personalities that promote Cola’s and other sugary drinks must now add that Colas are huge health risks ..Shekhar Kapur on Tweeter tweeted this.
That’s one way of dealing with it.But primordial prevention would help more.Don’t make or sell products which are proven to be harmful! Brands, Governments,celebrities,consumers everyone needs to take a stand.Its not okay to deliberately sell unhealthy, harmful,products.
1.Tobacco and all tobacco products.In some parts of India women not only work at Bidi factories but also start chewing tobacco paste called gul.Both may start as early as eight years of age.The work feeds the habit and kills good health,common sense and escalates healthcare expenses.
2.Alcohol.
WHO Finally admitted that no level of alcohol consumption is good for health. Seed oils,moderate amount of alcohol,soyabean, aspartame are things WHO supported and promoted once .Something to think about there.
Alcohol and tobacco together are responsible for most cases of oral and Head-neck cancer .There’s no upside to these two evils.Indirect advertising ,brand promotions work as bad as anything else.
3.Ultra processed, sugary, salty, fatty food.Includes fast food,cold drinks,frozen deserts, ice cream, chocolate,cakes sold in packets.Sometimes food branded as health-food fail the health test.Have you read my book Nutrition Diet Myths and Life? It’s an eye opener for health food and what you must avoid.
It can’t just be the money, or is it? Is that the reason famous movie stars endorse products from brands selling tobacco ,alcohol and fast food?How can youth icons sell addictive substances ,gambling apps and unhealthy products ?The youth has all the resources to find out the truth behind these products.Something we didn’t have growing up.That’s the reason I hope they will deliberately give a cold shoulder to the so “stars” who promote death,disease and addiction as food,fun and entertainment. Be a responsible consumer and not a blind follower.
Plus, I hope brands will make and sell good products promoting health ,wealth and wellness and not things which will harm both the individual and the society. There’s no harm in hoping and praying, right?