Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha has raised concerns over misleading branding in packaged beverages, highlighting the issue in the Rajya Sabha.
In a post shared on X. “You may think you are drinking fruit juice, but in reality, companies are selling sugar-filled drinks while using attractive images of fresh fruits on the packaging. The truth is hidden in small print at the back, which states that the pictures are only for marketing purposes,” he said.
You think you’re drinking Fruit Juice? THINK AGAIN.
Big food brands are selling sugar water with shiny ‘fresh fruit’ pictures on the front. And hiding the truth in tiny fine print at the back of packet which reads ‘Pictures for marketing purposes only’. SERIOUSLY?Today in… pic.twitter.com/ROu2YGH3G2
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) March 24, 2026
He has addressed the House and has described what he has termed as misleading practices in India’s consumer market, stating, “There is a serious issue in India’s consumer market related to misleading branding and false advertising. When people buy fruit juice, they see large images of fresh fruits on the front of the bottle.” He has further added, “However, on the back, it is written in small letters that the images are only for representation. Consumers, especially young people, believe these drinks are healthy, but in reality, they are consuming sugar-based beverages that can lead to diabetes, obesity, and other lifestyle diseases.”
Chadha has said that he raised the issue in Parliament due to its potential health impact. “I raised this issue in Parliament because such branding and advertisements are misleading people, especially children, and pushing them towards diabetes and lifestyle-related diseases. It is time to bring out the reality behind these products,” he added.
He has also questioned the government on measures to curb misleading packaging, asking, “I want to ask the Honorable Minister what steps are being taken to stop misleading images so that people are not visually misled even if companies follow technical rules. What measures are being taken to ensure that warnings about high sugar content are clearly displayed on the front of the packaging? Also, how will it be made clear whether a product is real fruit juice or a drink made using added concentrates and preservatives?”
Earlier, Chadha has also raised concerns in the Upper House regarding mobile data usage. He has called for regulation and rationalisation of mobile data services, stating, “Mobile data that remains unused by customers at the end of the day is taken back by telecom companies after midnight instead of being carried forward.” He has added, “Even though users pay for the full data pack, any unused portion is forfeited. This raises concerns as customers are not able to use the full value of what they have paid for,” he said.
