The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved significant changes to nutritional information labelling on packaged food items, advocating for the prominent display of total salt, sugar, and saturated fat content in bold letters and a larger font size.
In an effort to address public health concerns associated with excessive intake of these nutrients, which can lead to conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, the FSSAI has endorsed a proposal to enhance the visibility of nutritional details on labels. This initiative aims to empower consumers to make informed choices about their dietary habits.
According to an official statement from the FSSAI, the new labelling requirements will mandate that information regarding total sugar, salt, and saturated fat be presented prominently on packaged food labels. This approach is expected to simplify the process of monitoring and managing the consumption of these critical nutrients for consumers. The FSSAI will soon issue a draft notification to formalize these changes and will solicit feedback from stakeholders to ensure comprehensive regulations. This consultation process is crucial for gathering diverse perspectives from the food industry and the public, thereby facilitating a smooth and effective implementation of the updated labelling standards.