What's happening to India’s public health policies?
While the India-UK Free Trade Agreement ("UKFTA"), entering into force on July 24, 2025, is a cause for celebration and economic optimism, there’s a silent underdog in this story that is not being talked about enough - the long-term consequences of increased imports of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods. The UKFTA allows for the import of a wide range of processed foods: chocolates, confectioneries, breakfast cereals, sweetened beverages, packaged snacks, and ready-to-eat meals. All of this will now enter the Indian market at much cheaper prices thanks to tariff cuts and smoother logistics. This also means that everything from big-name brands to budget versions of these products from the UK will flood Indian supermarkets and online platforms. At first glance, this seems like a win especially for those consumers who are on a tight budgets and want variety. But it comes with a serious downside: making high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt ("HFSS") foods widely accessible ...