- 6 weeks ago
In this episode of Health360, the report examines the rising crackdown on surrogate advertising by tobacco and alcohol brands exploiting legal loopholes through proxy products like cardamom, soda, and music CDs. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration issued warnings to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff over endorsement deals promoting Vimal Elaichi, which links back to pan masala. The report highlights the health risks associated with restaurant food, including high sodium levels, hidden sugars, unhygienic kitchens, and reused cooking oil that undergoes dangerous chemical changes upon repeated heating. Additionally, experts address the monsoon health season, focusing on a six-fold rise in H1N1 seasonal influenza cases in Delhi and flu-like symptoms among students in Bengaluru. Medical specialists discuss distinguishing H1N1 from regular viral fevers, the importance of flu vaccination, and precautions against contagious eye flu or conjunctivitis. Gut health experts further recommend consuming freshly cooked food, probiotics, and citrus fruits to boost immunity during the rainy season.
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00:00Hello and welcome. You're watching Health Free 60, your one-stop destination to all-news health, wellness and fitness.
00:08On the show this week, surrogate ads for tobacco has been in news and actors promoting these brands are on
00:15the radar of Tukara Mundi,
00:17the Maharashtra Food Drugs Authority's Singham officer.
00:21Well, it got us delving deeper into the big loopholes that surrogate advertisers exploit.
00:28Also on the show this week, restaurants, dhabas, all of them under scanner of authorities,
00:35raising many questions that we've been asking about what are we actually eating once we choose to order from outside
00:43or go to a restaurant.
00:45It's become a bit of a risky affair here.
00:48We give you an idea about what exactly you're putting into your body when you choose to eat outside.
00:54Much more lined up in our special monsoon health segment as well.
00:58Let's get started with this week's Health Free 60.
01:01I'm Seneha Murtani.
01:31Let's get started with this week.
01:33We have strict restrictions on advertising products such as alcohol and tobacco,
01:38but companies have found ways to keep their brands visible through what really is known as surrogate advertising.
01:46Very recently, brand ambassadors of certain surrogate products were under this scanner
01:51for promoting products that have a strong tobacco name link.
01:55Our report gives you a complete lowdown on surrogate advertisements and also tells you why surrogate ads started in India
02:03in the first place.
02:05Here's the complete story.
02:08Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration has warned Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgan and Tiger Shroff over their appearance
02:16in a Vimal Eliichi advertisement,
02:19alleging it amounts to surrogate advertising for Vimal Paan Masala, which is a tobacco product.
02:25The regulator has asked the actors to remove the ads from social media, stop appearing in further promotions and explain
02:33their endorsement deals within 15 days.
02:37So this brings us to this question.
02:40What really is surrogate advertising?
02:43Think of it.
02:43Vimal is actually strongly associated with Vimal Paan Masala, while the actors' advertisements supposedly promote the cardamom product, which is
02:53minus the tobacco.
02:55You're saying you're advertising cardamom, but people see the Vimal brand and think of Paan Masala.
03:03That is surrogate advertising and that's the problem here really.
03:07Have you ever seen an advertisement of a soda, for example, mineral water, even a music CD and thought, wait,
03:14isn't that actually an alcohol brand?
03:17That is the basic idea behind surrogate advertising.
03:21So the anatomy of a surrogate ad is what we're going to be explaining here.
03:26In India, alcohol companies can't openly advertise the liquor products on television.
03:31So instead of saying, buy a whiskey, a company might advertise another product using the same brand name, logo, color,
03:40slogan, celebrity.
03:41For example, Brand X soda.
03:43Sounds harmless, isn't it?
03:45But if Brand X is famous for whiskey, viewers may immediately think about the whiskey and not the soda.
03:52So technically, the advertisement is for soda, but psychologically, the brand is still being promoted.
03:58That whiskey is still getting promoted.
04:01And that's exactly what critics of surrogate advertising object to.
04:06The concern is that the company doesn't really need to show a bottle of alcohol.
04:11It can show a famous cricketer, a glamorous lifestyle, a catchy slogan, a party, a music adventure and the brand
04:18name.
04:19The audience makes a connection by themselves.
04:23The argument here becomes particularly important when young people see these advertisements.
04:28They may not be legally allowed to buy alcohol, but they can still see the brand repeatedly on TV, social
04:34media, sports, broadcasts and events.
04:38The concern is that the brand becomes familiar and even associated with success, popularity and a glamorous lifestyle.
04:47What was the need to sell these products in this fashion?
04:50This was not always how it was done.
04:53These ads that you see right now were a reality for all of us while we were growing up.
04:59Like the ad for any other product, tobacco and alcohol were openly advertised.
05:03But then came the whip from the government.
05:07In the year 2003, the government of India, through parliament, enacted the COTPA Act.
05:132003, the cigarettes and other tobacco products.
05:16Prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce.
05:21Production, Supply and Distribution Act.
05:23Banning the Advertisement of Tobacco.
05:26Way before that, in 1994, advertising of alcohol on television was prohibited under the cable television network rules.
05:35And this, like I said, since 1994.
05:38The rules were introduced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to prevent the promotion of liquor through television advertising.
05:46Coming back to surrogate ads.
05:48What does the government really say?
05:50So, the Union Health Ministry is not entirely unable to act against surrogate advertising.
05:57But the direct enforcement is heavily constrained by legal loopholes, jurisdictional divisions, judicial rulings, protecting non-tobacco, non-alcohol brand
06:07extensions.
06:09While central consumer authorities and state bodies have formal bans on surrogate ads,
06:14companies frequently exploit separate corporate entities or identical brand names for legal products.
06:21Like Cardamom, Elaichi or Soda to contest direct bans in court.
06:26And this has been happening forever.
06:29What really is deeply problematic is on how celebrities are promoting it.
06:34Last year, the Union Health Ministry wrote to IPL to ban surrogate ads for tobacco and alcohol,
06:40asking them to regulate tobacco and alcohol ads, including surrogate ads and product sales during the IPL season,
06:48putting this ad under scanner.
06:51The World Health Organization's position is as follows.
06:55They strictly oppose surrogate ads for tobacco and alcohol,
06:59classifying it as a deceptive marketing tactic designed to bypass national bans
07:04and promote harmful addictive products under the guise of proxy goods like mouth fresheners,
07:10club soda or music CDs.
07:13The scourge of tobacco and alcohol continues to take a devastating toll in India and outside,
07:19driving preventable deaths and diseases ranging from cancer and heart disease,
07:24liver, respiratory disorders,
07:26while placing a heavy burden on families, healthcare systems and the economy.
07:32And that is why the crackdown on surrogate ads becomes so important.
07:38And how does this really affect you?
07:40Well, you may see restricted brands without seeing the restricted product.
07:45Repeated exposure keeps the brand fresh in your mind.
07:49Celebrities can make these brands appear aspirational.
07:52Young audiences, many of them in rural India, may be particularly influenced.
07:57The ad can create positive associations with alcohol or tobacco.
08:01A harmless product may indirectly promote a restricted one.
08:05It can normalize brands linked to harmful products.
08:08The bottom line, what you see in its innocent ad could be a clever form of brand promotion.
08:14And you must know this.
08:17We all love eating out, isn't it?
08:19The convenience, the variety, the flavors.
08:23But what exactly are we putting on our plates when we order from a restaurant?
08:28From excess oil, salt, sugar to oversized portions and repeated use of cooking oil,
08:34a seemingly harmless meal could come with a hidden health cost.
08:39But how unhealthy is restaurant food really?
08:43And are there simple ways to make smarter choices without giving up eating out?
08:48We take a closer look at what's really on your plate and the health risks you might just be overlooking.
09:01Rodents in the kitchens, tailed chicken, re-use of oil, quality of spices, hygiene.
09:12Raids and more scrutiny continues over restaurants.
09:20Even the popular ones bringing us to ask, what are we actually eating when we eat food from the outside?
09:28In this day and age, eating out is not a luxury.
09:32What is a luxury according to me is eating meals from home.
09:36Freshly prepared ghar ka khana.
09:38The good old ghar ka khana, which I think is one of the best things that you can do for
09:43your health.
09:43But the fact of the matter is that modern conveniences have made it just so simple to order food from
09:49the outside.
09:50Well, we are not asking you to not eat food from a restaurant.
09:53Well, I do it once in a while.
09:55But here's the catch.
09:57The catch word is once in a while.
09:59And when you fail to do it once in a while and avoid ghar ka khana altogether, that's when the
10:05problem starts.
10:09So, we really have to start with this disclaimer.
10:13All restaurant food is not bad.
10:16Not all restaurants are hygienic.
10:19But eating out mostly means an extra dose of oil, ghee or butter to make it more palatable and give
10:26that rich look.
10:29Certainly, high salt, way more than we ordinary eat, would eat at home.
10:35Ever felt thirsty after a heavy meal from the restaurant?
10:40That is excessive sodium.
10:43When sodium concentration increases, the brain activates thirst to restore balance.
10:49Feeling unusually thirsty after salty food is a common sign of increased sodium intake.
10:55This may also lead to drinking large amounts of fluid in a short time.
10:59Further highlighting that your body is trying to correct this imbalance.
11:07Then de-frying and yes, the quality of oil.
11:11That too is a big, big area of concern if you're eating out.
11:14Now, this video put out by a social media user has bet the answer to a question around reused oil
11:21in a popular restaurant in Bengaluru.
11:27Reusing oil again and again, every time oil is heated, especially at high temperatures, it undergoes chemical changes.
11:35Repeated heating can lead to the formation of oxidation products and other compounds that may affect food quality and even
11:43your health.
11:51Inevitably, we end up having more if you're eating in a restaurant.
11:55Refined carbs, white bread, maida, naan, pizza, basil, noodles, all of it, hidden sugars.
12:00Not just in desserts, because that's not really hidden, but in other things like sauces and gravies that we don't
12:07know, but may have lots and lots of sugar.
12:10The urge to finish and not waste expensive restaurant food, shoving it down your throat.
12:18Deep frying, samosas, pakoras, fries, fried chicken, absorb substantial amounts of oil.
12:25Creamy sauces, butter chicken, malai dishes and creamy pasta can be very calorie dense.
12:32Then processed meats.
12:33Some burgers, sausages and similar foods can be high in sodium and saturated fat.
12:38So if you think that the party in the burger is fresh meat that you've been given, you need to
12:43think again.
12:44And here's the important thing.
12:46You don't really need to stop eating restaurant food.
12:50If you eat restaurant food occasionally, while most of your diet consists of nutritious foods, freshly prepared at home, then
12:58you are on the right track.
12:59The biggest thing to watch is frequency.
13:02Once in a while, unhealthy meal, not a big deal.
13:05You're conscious of it.
13:07Unhealthy restaurant food most days, potentially a significant problem over time.
13:12And you don't have to choose only healthy restaurants.
13:15You can make a normal restaurant meal much better simply by choosing less fried food, controlling the portion, getting vegetables,
13:22proteins in and choosing water instead of a sugary drink.
13:55The monsoon is here and it's not just the weather that is changing.
13:57How do you protect yourself from high flu and what can you do to keep your tummy healthy while infectious
14:03diseases are all around?
14:05So today, let's bring in our monsoon health playbook.
14:10What to watch out for, what to prevent and when a seasonal illness needs medical attention.
14:17And India is seeing increased H1N1 seasonal influenza activity, particularly in Delhi and some other cities during the monsoon.
14:25But it is important to distinguish a rise in cases from a nationwide outbreak.
14:31What's really happening now?
14:33Delhi, we know, is the clearest current hotspot.
14:35The National Center for Disease Control data cited reports that indicate Delhi having about H1N1 reported cases as of the
14:451st and the 2nd week of August, compared with 229 during the same period last year, which means there is
14:53a six-fold increase.
14:55Doctors are reporting more patients with fever, coughs, sore throat, body ache and fatigue.
15:00Influenza infections are mild, but some can progress through pneumonia or respiratory complications.
15:06A Bengaluru has seen a significant flu-like illness.
15:09At Clarence-sized school, more than 500 students and 21 staff members have flu-like symptoms.
15:16The school is closed down for the time being.
15:20H1N1 is a seasonal influenza virus.
15:24Rather than the pandemic virus, it was way back in 2009.
15:29Influenza transmission can increase during particular season conditions and that is what we are seeing.
15:34So we are bringing in our experts right here.
15:37Dr. Suranji Chatterjee, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Indra Prasth Apollo Hospital in Delhi with us.
15:44Thank you so much for your time.
15:46Doctor, how do you distinguish Dr. H1N1 from an ordinary viral fever?
15:52Like most of the viral respiratory diseases would behave in the same way.
15:56They will have fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache as a symptom.
16:02So it's difficult to differentiate between them.
16:04So you go by the number of cases that is happening in your area.
16:08If like swine flu cases, numbers are high or COVID numbers are high,
16:12then you start suspecting these cases and investigating for them.
16:16Because symptom-wise, mostly they will have cough, sore throat, fever, headache and body ache.
16:24Is it time to get the flu vaccine now?
16:26Because most people don't take it, doctor.
16:28And who should be taking it?
16:30For sure, people should take the flu vaccination.
16:32Because it does cover against the influenza viruses.
16:35It is an ideal thing to do.
16:36And one of the reasons why I think the numbers are higher
16:40is because our influenza or the flu vaccine coverage is poorer.
16:45So if we increase the percentage of vaccination and more people get vaccinated,
16:50it is possible that the number of swine flu cases might reduce
16:53or at least the severity and intensity of the infection might reduce.
16:59The big question, when does this fever or cough require testing or even hospitalization?
17:08Since almost large numbers of people are suffering from swine flu
17:12and or a few people are also suffering from COVID in Delhi right now.
17:17So with cough, fever, headache, body ache as symptoms,
17:21it's not a bad idea that if the symptoms persist to get checked by your doctor
17:26and maybe investigated.
17:28Because then you know how it is going to behave in the next couple of days.
17:32And also the antiviral medication, Oseltamivir, if it is given early,
17:38it has had some benefit in whosoever you're using.
17:41But if it is given late, it doesn't make much sense.
17:44So it's not a bad idea that if there is a suspicion by your treating physician
17:49or pediatrician that there could be swine flu, it could be tested
17:52and it can be treated accordingly in the vulnerable age group.
17:58Dr. Sanjay K. Jain is a pediatrician with the McCure Hospital
18:02and I'm going to welcome him also to this broadcast.
18:04Doctor, what's your take on this?
18:06The sharp increase in H1N1 cases that we are seeing this year.
18:11Why is this happening?
18:12So flu coaches usually increases when the weather is changing.
18:15And people are also spending more time in crowded places
18:18like in schools, offices, malls, transport.
18:21So the infection is spread from one to other person.
18:24And also nowadays people are more aware and testing is more common.
18:27So we are picking up more cases.
18:30But we should remember that every fever and cough is not an H1N1.
18:33Many other variant infections can also give similar kind of symptoms.
18:36And who then is most vulnerable to severe disease here?
18:40Basically, we should be more careful with the small children,
18:43elderly people and the pregnant women.
18:46People with asthma, other diseases like diabetes, hypertension,
18:50heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease,
18:53B community, they're also at the higher risk.
18:56So for those patients, it's better to consult a doctor early
18:59rather than waiting for the condition to become serious.
19:01Doctor, can H1N1 and dengue occur together?
19:05And how can people really tell them apart?
19:09So yes, both dengue and flu can cause fever,
19:11headache, weakness, and body ache.
19:14So sometimes it's difficult to tell them apart.
19:17In flu, we usually see more cough, soreness, sore throat, cold-like symptoms.
19:22But in dengue, it's more of generalized symptoms like a severe body pain,
19:25headache, pain behind the eyes, vomiting, stomach pain,
19:29rashes, and sometimes bleeding also.
19:31If the fever is continuous or the patient is growing worsen,
19:34the blood test may be needed.
19:36And one more important thing is there,
19:38if dengue is suspected, do not take aspirin or iuprofen by your own
19:41because that can increase the risk of bleeding also.
19:46Shifting focus now, and as the monsoon sets in,
19:49iFlu is also making its presence felt.
19:53Red watery, erated eyes may seem like a minor seasonal nuisance,
19:56but conjunctivitis can spread very quickly.
20:00So what are the warning signs and how contagious is this?
20:03What should you do if you catch it?
20:05Here's more.
20:11Ranbir Kapoor recently suffered from conjunctivitis,
20:15also known as the pink eye, ahead of his film launch,
20:18drawing attention to an eye infection
20:20that actually becomes more common during the monsoon season.
20:24The rainy season actually creates idle conditions of viruses and bacteria to thrive,
20:30while increased humidity, stagnant water, poor hand hygiene and frequent eye rubbing
20:35make it easier for infections to spread.
20:38According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology,
20:42viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious,
20:46making outbreaks more common during the season when infections spread rapidly.
20:51Red eyes, itching, swelling and constant watering,
20:55many people are waking up with these symptoms during the monsoon season.
20:58Doctors say this is the eye flu.
21:01It increases during the rainy season because humidity, water contamination and close contact
21:07make it easier for all viruses to spread, this being no different.
21:12It may start with just mild irritation.
21:15Within us, eyes can become red swollen, things can get uncomfortable.
21:20So I bring in our eye doctor today.
21:22Dr. Purendra Basin is with us.
21:25Doctor, why do eye flu cases increase during this season?
21:28Eye flu is the kind of infection which is present during this wet and humid weather.
21:36And viruses, they propagate during this weather.
21:39And if someone is carrying or harboring the infection,
21:43it is very common that others can also catch it very fast.
21:47So it is very, very contagious.
21:49And this weather is very favorable for the viruses to grow.
21:54So the infection usually affects the outer layer of the eye, causing inflammation known as conjunctivitis.
22:01Dr. Basin, how can people differentiate between normal eye irritation and an infection that needs medical attention?
22:08At the end of the day, it's our eye, isn't it?
22:11Eye flu, the sign and symptoms are very different.
22:15The eye becomes red and there is a swelling, there is a lot of grittiness, watering is there from the
22:22eye and some discharge might also come.
22:26And you may find that there is a blurring of vision and a person becomes very uncomfortable because of this
22:32eye flu.
22:33Doctor, tell us what the warning signs of this could be, of conjunctivitis could be.
22:38A warning sign will be that you will find, initially you will find some discomfort in the eye and some
22:44pinkishness or development of redness in the eye
22:48and grittiness in foreign bodies when the vessels start engorging and thickening of the vessels is there.
22:57Secondly, you will find that there is some discharges also coming along with.
23:03One of the biggest mistakes, doctor, that people make is rubbing or touching their eyes again and again.
23:08And that only worsens things, isn't it?
23:10If you rub your eye, which is already, your hand is already contaminated from touching the surface or the handles
23:20or anything.
23:21So you can bring that infection and leave it into your eye.
23:26So it's better not to rub your eyes.
23:29I also want to ask you, eye drops are available in the market.
23:33Many people are quick to buy it over the counter and use it.
23:36But that really isn't the best thing to do.
23:38Unless until you have got it checked by an ophthalmologist, you should not use it.
23:43I will not suggest.
23:44Maybe some lubricant drop you can use safely.
23:48That is possible.
23:49But one should avoid using the over the counter drops and over the counter or the drops which are casually
23:58present at home due to some reason.
24:00So here's what you need to know.
24:02Most cases improve with proper care, but prevention remains the best protection.
24:07During the monsoon, keeping your hands clean, never underestimate the power of washing your hands again and again.
24:15And avoiding close contact with someone who has an active eye infection can reduce your risk.
24:22So from the eyes to focus on your tummy.
24:26Monsoon, as we know, is the perfect time for your tummy to get upset.
24:29And here is the science behind why certain food items should be avoided.
24:35Absolutely not taken during this time.
24:37Here really is the entire list of the food items that you must not be consuming for various reasons during
24:45the monsoon season.
24:46Because the fear of bacterial contamination is extremely high.
24:51So I bring in our gut health expert here to tell us a little about doctor, the foods to avoid,
24:58foods to limit and not take during the monsoon season.
25:02What would that be and why?
25:04Tell us more.
25:05See, during monsoon, what happens is that the humidity level goes up.
25:12So there is a contamination of the food particles and also because of the monsoon, there is the food articles,
25:23waterborne diseases, they increase.
25:25Try to eat food, which is, you know, prepared fresh at your home and avoid food eating outside.
25:31Which of the foods, doctor, that help boost immunity and are there such foods at all that naturally support, you
25:39know, your gut health during the monsoon season, doctor?
25:42See, the food items like citrus fruits or for that matter, any fruits you take, they are high in antioxidants
25:56and you should consume a lot of citrus foods and overall whole fruits.
26:04And you can also eat ginger, garlic, which, you know, and turmeric, which has high antimicrobial activity.
26:14Generally, curd or buttermilk, they have, or yogurt, they have high amount of probiotics.
26:24Those are the good bacterias.
26:26If you consume these products on a regular basis, they will boost up your gut immunity and gut health.
26:35Here is what you must know.
26:38And this really is a monsoon tip for you.
26:40Well, food hygiene is just as important as the food itself.
26:45You must choose freshly cooked, thoroughly washed and properly stored foods during this time wherein the risk of contamination is
26:53actually the highest.
26:55Well, that report brings us to the end of this edition of Healthy 60.
26:59We certainly hope you enjoyed watching the show as much as we did putting it together for you.
27:04You can find these reports up on India Today's social media platforms.
27:07That's YouTube, Instagram, Twitter or X and Facebook.
27:11And it's going up on India Today's website, indiatoday.in as well.
27:16Until next time, take very good care of yourself.
27:19Bye for now.
27:25Bye for now.
27:26Bye.