The food safety regulator submitted a six-page compliance affidavit to the Supreme Court outlining a clear, high-visibility labelling framework
Following sharp criticism from the Supreme Court over prolonged regulatory delays, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed mandatory front-of-pack (FoP) warning labels for packaged foods containing excessive added sugar, saturated fat, and salt.
The food safety regulator submitted a six-page compliance affidavit to the apex court outlining a clear, high-visibility labelling framework. Under the proposal, packaged products exceeding nutrient thresholds set by the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) will be required to feature prominent red hexagonal warning labels.
Red Hexagons to Flag Unhealthy Nutrient Levels
To ensure high readability and eliminate consumer confusion, the FSSAI specified that the front-of-pack warnings must be printed in a bold red hexagonal shape. The font size of the text inside the symbol must be at least one point larger than the font used in the nutrition information table on the back of the package.
The labels will feature clear, direct warnings based on the product’s composition:
- High Fat, High Sugar, or High Salt: Explicit declarations identifying specific nutrients that exceed safe dietary thresholds.
- Combined Warnings: Products surpassing limits for multiple ingredients will feature joint labels, such as “HIGH FAT HIGH SUGAR” or “HIGH FAT HIGH SALT.”
- Sweetened Drinks: A distinct “HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE” label will be mandated for sugary drinks.
Single-ingredient foods and items inherently rich in specific nutrients—such as milk, ghee, edible oils, sugar, jaggery, and honey—will be exempted from the warning system.
Phased Rollout and Judicial Pressure
The regulatory shift comes shortly after a Supreme Court bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala severely reprimanded the FSSAI for failing to enforce interpretive warning labels and delaying public health protections. The court rejected complex numerical tables, emphasizing that visual warning symbols are crucial for enabling ordinary consumers and children to make informed nutritional choices.
