The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed prominent front-of-pack warning labels in a red-coloured hexagonal format for packaged food products high in specified nutrients of concern. In a compliance affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, FSSAI said the proposed system is intended to provide consumers with simple, prominent and easily comprehensible information on products containing high levels of added saturated fat, added sugar and salt, based on thresholds specified under the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by ICMR-NIN.
Under the proposed framework, the front-of-pack warning could carry declarations such as “High Fat”, “High Sugar”, “High Salt” and “Highly Sweetened Beverage”, depending on the product. The warning is proposed to be displayed in a font size one point larger than that used in the nutrition information table on the back of the package. The initial phase would cover products high in two or more specified nutrients, along with specified sweetened beverages, while a second phase would extend the requirement to products high in any one of the specified nutrients.
Single-ingredient products and foods inherently high in fat, sugar or salt, including ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery and honey, have been proposed for exemption, subject to other applicable food safety and labelling requirements. FSSAI has also proposed a phased implementation to support consumer acceptance and provide food manufacturers sufficient time for product reformulation.
The proposal was submitted in compliance with the Supreme Court’s August 13 order in a petition filed by public charitable trust 3S and Our Health Society, which has sought mandatory front-of-package warning labels on packaged foods. The Supreme Court bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran had questioned the delay in introducing such warning labels. FSSAI said the proposed framework is aimed at supporting informed food choices, particularly among children and other vulnerable groups, and will be formally notified through amendments to the relevant regulations after following the prescribed procedure.
