India needs ‘Healthy Bharat’ along with Atmanirbhar oil production: Experts in ICMR-NIN webinar
HYDERABAD: At a national webinar hosted by ICMR-NIN as part of its ‘Let’s Fix Our Food’ series, public health leaders shared a step-by-step plan to address India’s rising health problems caused by poor diets. The plan focuses on getting rid of harmful industrial trans fats and encouraging the use and production of healthier local cooking oils.
Professor J.S. Thakur, Head of the Healthy Oil Consortium at PGIMER, Chandigarh, presented findings from a comprehensive scoping study, highlighting a critical production-consumption gap. While India’s edible oil demand grows at 6% annually, domestic production rises by only 2%. This forces the country to import 57% of its needs, with 59% of imports being palm oil.
In his presentation titled Roadmap for replacing trans fats with healthy edible oils in India, Thakur said, “Palm oil alone accounts for 40% of our total oil consumption, followed by soybean at 21%,” stated Prof. Thakur. “Our goal is not just ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in oil production, but ‘Atmanirbhar and Healthy Bharat.’ We must shift policy focus from quantity to nutritional quality.”
Further, the study revealed persistent public health challenges, including the widespread use of Vanaspati (hydrogenated vegetable oil) in North Indian fried foods and bakeries, low consumer awareness, and frequent reuse of frying oils at household and street-food levels.
SHIFT Consortium formed to replace harmful oils
In response, a coalition of national stakeholders dubbed the SHIFT Consortium (Supporting Healthier Oils And Fats To Replace Trans Fats) was launched in February 2025. It includes representatives from NITI Aayog, the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, FSSAI, premier research institutions like NIN, CFTRI, and industry bodies.
The consortium’s objectives are to build consensus on a national roadmap, develop evidence-based policy briefs, and sensitize stakeholders through nationwide workshops.
The webinar and studies gave several important suggestions for different parts of the supply chain. For Farmers & Production, set up a strong Minimum Support Price (MSP) and buying system for oilseeds to encourage farmers to grow them. Improve direct communication between research centers and farmers to use better, high-yield, disease-resistant seeds.
For Policy changes, update national oil rules to focus on health as well as self-sufficiency. Make sure current rules like the FSSAI’s RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) program are followed, and that blended oils are labeled honestly.
For Consumers & Industry, start campaigns to inform people about the health dangers of trans fats and the benefits of using different, healthier oils. Give rewards to companies that make their products healthier and to consumers who pick better options.
TRANSFORM project to pilot Trans fat reduction
Taking the next step, Prof. Thakur announced Phase 3, a project called TRANSFORM (Trans Fatty Acid Reduction and State Optimization Reform Model). This project will test a CLEARS Framework that focuses on making sure rules are followed, improving labs, and spreading the word in Punjab and Chandigarh. It will check if rules are being followed, how vendors work, and how much the public knows, to create a plan for other states.
“The bakery industry uses 60% Vanaspati. We have conducted state-wide studies in Punjab and Haryana showing a major dyslipidemia problem. TRANSFORM is our ground-level effort to change this,” Prof. Thakur added.
To sum up, the call to action is clear, a collaborative, multi-sectoral effort across agriculture, trade, public health, and consumer affairs is essential to ensure that the push for edible oil self-sufficiency also nourishes the health of the nation.
