FSSAI proposes red warning labels for packaged foods high in sugar, salt and fat

FSSAI has proposed red front-of-pack warning labels for processed foods and beverages high in sugar, salt or fat, following Supreme Court pressure to expedite regulations. The move aims to help consumers identify nutritional risks, though major food companies oppose the proposal

New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed to roll out a front-of-pack red warning label for processed food items and beverages that are high in sugar, salt, or fat content so that consumers can make an informed choice.

“The warning label shall indicate the applicable declaration, such as ‘HIGH FAT’, ‘HIGH SUGAR’, ‘HIGH SALT’ and/or ‘HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE’ … to enable consumers to readily identify products high in the specified nutrients,” according to a Reuters that cited an FSSAI filing in the Surpreme Court.

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The submission was made in the Supreme Court as it is hearing petitions from health activists calling for the introduction of warning labels on the lines of Western countries. The Supreme Court had told the FSSAI at a hearing earlier this month to expedite the introduction of these labels.

Big Food companies such as Nestle, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola have been opposing the move as it is expected to hit sales.

The Supreme Court had pulled up the FSSAI during the last hearing over prolonged delays in implementing mandatory packaged food warning labels. Hearing a public interest litigation, the bench emphasised that transparent nutritional disclosures are crucial to protect citizens, especially young children, from the risk of diseases such as obesity.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran expressed profound dissatisfaction with the statutory regulator’s slow pace. The judges questioned whether regulatory authorities genuinely prioritised the health of the Indian population. Consequently, the court warned that judicial orders would follow if the executive branch failed to act independently.

The Supreme Court rejected arguments suggesting that front-of-package warning labels might unfairly penalise traditional Indian packaged snacks. The bench observed that commercial interests cannot supersede public health imperatives. It granted a strict two-week window for the regulatory body to establish a definitive framework. The judges emphasised that young consumers face aggressive marketing of ultra-processed items. Without unambiguous visual warnings on product containers, consumers cannot readily assess nutritional risks.