The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed mandatory warning labels on the front of packaged food products that contain high levels of added sugar, saturated fat or salt.
The proposal comes after the Supreme Court criticised delays in putting stronger food-labelling measures in place. In a six-page compliance affidavit submitted to the court, the regulator laid out a front-of-pack (FoP) system aimed at making nutritional warnings easier for consumers to notice.
Under the proposal, products crossing nutrient limits set by the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) would carry prominent red hexagonal warnings.
What the red labels will show
The warnings are designed to clearly identify nutrients present above the prescribed limits. Depending on the product, labels could state “HIGH FAT”, “HIGH SUGAR” or “HIGH SALT”.
Products exceeding limits for more than one nutrient would carry combined warnings such as “HIGH FAT HIGH SUGAR" or “HIGH FAT HIGH SALT."
Sugary drinks would have a separate warning reading “HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE".
The FSSAI has also proposed minimum size requirements for the warnings. Text inside the red hexagon must be at least one point larger than the font used in the nutrition information table on the back of the pack.
Some foods to remain exempt
The proposed warning system will not apply to single-ingredient foods or products that are naturally high in certain nutrients.
Items listed for exemption include milk, ghee, edible oils, sugar, jaggery and honey.
Two-phase implementation plan
The regulator has proposed introducing the warning system in two stages. During the first phase, products high in two or more specified nutrients, along with highly sweetened beverages, would have to carry the warnings.
The second phase would expand the requirement to products that cross the prescribed limit for even one nutrient.
The move follows strong observations from the Supreme Court, which questioned delays by the food regulator and stressed the importance of simple visual warnings. The court had rejected reliance on complicated numerical information alone, noting that clear symbols can help consumers, including children, understand the nutritional risks of packaged foods.
The proposed rules will come into effect after formal amendments are made to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations.