New Delhi, Aug 29: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed prominent red-coloured warning labels on packaged food products that contain high levels of added saturated fat, added sugar and salt.
The proposal was submitted to the Supreme Court through a compliance affidavit amid judicial scrutiny over the need for clearer front-of-pack nutritional information for consumers.
Under the proposed system, packaged food products high in two or more specified nutrients of concern would carry a red, hexagonal warning label on the front of the package. The warnings could state “HIGH FAT”, “HIGH SUGAR” and “HIGH SALT”, depending on the nutrients exceeding the prescribed thresholds.
The FSSAI has based the proposed thresholds on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN).
The regulator has also proposed a separate warning, “HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE”, for specified sweetened drinks.
The proposed labels are intended to provide consumers with a simple and easily understandable warning about products containing excessive amounts of nutrients that may pose health concerns when consumed in excess.
The warning would be displayed prominently on the front of the package, with the proposed font size set one point larger than that used in the nutrition information table on the back.
However, the proposed system is not yet a binding regulation. FSSAI has clarified that the requirement would have to go through the prescribed regulatory process, including amendments to the relevant food safety and labelling regulations, before it becomes mandatory.
The move comes as India faces growing concerns over diet-related health problems and follows increasing pressure for stronger nutritional labelling that allows consumers to identify potentially unhealthy packaged foods more easily.
The proposed front-of-pack system is expected to make nutritional warnings more visible at the point of purchase and could also encourage food manufacturers to reformulate products by reducing excessive levels of salt, sugar and saturated fat.
