A Call for Dietary Sugar Restriction Policy in India in Light of Oral Health Concerns

Rising sugar consumption in India, particularly from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and ultra-processed foods, has intensified the burden of oral and systemic diseases. Excessive intake of free sugars is strongly linked with dental caries, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, contributing to escalating health and economic costs. Despite global guidelines advocating for reduced free sugar intake, India lacks a comprehensive national strategy to address this shared risk factor for oral and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This article integrates international evidence and India-specific data to demonstrate the health and economic impact of sugar consumption and to evaluate the effectiveness of fiscal, regulatory, and educational interventions. Global experiences with excise taxes on SSBs, mandatory front-of-package (FOP) labelling, and restrictions on child-directed marketing have proven successful in reducing sugar intake and prompting industry reformulation. In India, however, policy efforts remain fragmented, with limited taxation and weak regulatory enforcement. We propose a multisectoral framework tailored to India's epidemiological and socioeconomic context. Recommended measures include a tiered excise tax on high-sugar foods and beverages, mandatory interpretive FOP warning labels, comprehensive bans on marketing to children, school-based sugar control measures, and integration of preventive oral health promotion into primary care. Strengthening surveillance of sugar intake, caries prevalence, and policy outcomes, alongside allocating tax revenues for health promotion and nutrition subsidies, is vital to ensure equity and sustainability. A comprehensive dietary sugar reduction policy would safeguard children's oral health, reduce future NCD burden, and generate long-term economic and societal benefits for India.