India, Feb. 27 -- Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan on Thursday said social media influencers are spreading a "false narrative" that processed food is harmful, and called for a collective effort to counter it, warning the misinformation was impeding the sector's growth.

Addressing the inaugural session of ANVESH-2026, a three-day international conference organised by NIFTEM-K, Paswan said the perception that "processed food means not good" was being actively promoted online. "We are facing this challenge not only in our country, but also globally as well - the kind of false narrative through the influencers on processed food. Processed food means not good - such narrative is being set. I don't know the intention behind it...