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Influencer-driven processed food harm narrative harming industry: Chirag Paswan
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Monday, 02 March, 2026, 12 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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Union Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan has raised strong concerns over what he called a “false narrative” being spread by social media influencers that processed foods are harmful — a perception he says is damaging India’s food processing sector and slowing its growth prospects.
Addressing the inaugural session of ‘ANVESH-2026’ a three-day international conference organised by the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management – Kundli (NIFTEM-K), Paswan emphasised that misinformation circulating on online platforms is creating misconceptions about processed food products. He pointed out that many influencers are framing processed foods as inherently unhealthy, without robust scientific backing, and this is adversely impacting public perception.
“We are facing this challenge not only in our country, but globally as well — the kind of false narrative through the influencers on processed food,” Paswan said. “Processed food means not good such narrative is being set. I don’t know the intention behind it. But this is being done.”
The minister underlined the importance of processed foods — particularly ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products — in modern lifestyles that include nuclear families and working professionals. Paswan said such products have become integral to daily life, providing convenience and meeting nutritional needs differently than traditional cooking methods.
Paswan also noted that his ministry has formed a committee on misleading advertisements, which has already met twice to discuss strategies to challenge misleading messaging and ensure communications around processed foods are based on facts rather than misinformation.
He urged industry leaders to proactively engage with influencers, suggesting that if each key player in the sector collaborates with one or two credible voices, the narrative can be steered in a healthier and more balanced direction. “If we start a national campaign on this, we can deal with this challenge,” the minister said.
On broader sectoral issues, Paswan dismissed concerns about trade concessions in ongoing free trade agreement negotiations, saying India is signing deals “on our terms and conditions” with protections for farmer interests. He called for shared responsibility among stakeholders for the growth of India’s food processing industry, stressing that policy formulation is just one part of the government’s role.
The conference was attended by senior figures including Food Processing Industries Secretary Avinash Joshi, World Food Prize laureate Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, and academics and industry leaders.
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