New Delhi: India’s proposed warning labels for packaged food are facing criticism from both public health experts and the food industry, as the government considers a new system designed to help consumers identify products high in sugar, salt and fat.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI, has proposed a red coloured hexagonal warning label for packaged foods and drinks that exceed the proposed limits for at least two of three specified nutrients: added sugar, salt and saturated fat. The labels could carry warnings such as “HIGH FAT”, “HIGH SUGAR”, “HIGH SALT” and “HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE”.
The proposal has not yet become a final regulation. No final notification or confirmed implementation timetable has been issued. The issue is expected to return to the Supreme Court on September 10.
The latest debate has brought criticism from two different directions. Health experts say the proposal is not strict enough, while food companies and industry groups are concerned that the proposed thresholds could result in warning labels on a wide range of products.
Public health advocates are particularly concerned about the first phase of the proposal. Under this phase, a product must cross the threshold for at least two of the specified nutrients to receive a warning.
This means a product that crosses the threshold for only one nutrient could avoid a warning. Health experts argue that this could allow some products that are high in sugar, salt or fat to escape the warning system.
They have called for separate warnings for individual nutrients, similar to systems used in countries such as Chile.
Reuters has reported that research on Chile’s system found a 23.7 percent decline in purchases of sugary drinks during the first 18 months after the system was introduced. However, the experience of other countries does not necessarily mean the same results would occur in India.
FSSAI has proposed a second phase that would extend warnings to products exceeding the threshold for any one of the specified nutrients. The timing and final details of that phase, however, remain unclear.
The food industry has raised different concerns.
One major industry concern is the use of a 100 gram benchmark rather than a serving based calculation for some products. Industry representatives argue that consumers may eat only a small amount of products such as pickles or ketchup, making a 100 gram comparison less representative of a typical serving.
Companies are also concerned about the proposed nutrient thresholds. Reuters reported that the proposal would classify solid products as high in added sugar when the level exceeds 3 percent by weight and as high in fat when it exceeds 4.2 percent.
The Federation of Sweets and Namkeen Manufacturers, which represents about 5,000 members, has also raised concerns. The group says sugar, salt and fat are important ingredients in many traditional Indian sweets and savoury snacks.
Firoz Naqvi, the federation’s director general, said many packaged traditional sweets and namkeen products could attract warnings. He said this could affect consumer perception and demand.
The dispute follows months of pressure on the Indian government and FSSAI over front of pack nutrition labelling.
The Supreme Court has been hearing a case brought by 3S and Our Health Society, a Kerala based non profit organisation seeking mandatory warning labels on packaged foods.
The case is being heard by a bench comprising Justices J. B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran. On August 13, the Court gave the government two weeks to place its decision on the issue on record. FSSAI submitted its new proposal on August 28.
The new proposal represents a change from FSSAI’s earlier approach.
On August 3, FSSAI had proposed displaying nutrient information per 100 grams and serving size alongside recommended daily limits for added sugar, saturated fat and salt. The approach did not include a prominent warning symbol, meaning consumers would have to compare the figures with the recommended limits themselves.
The new proposal instead seeks to use a prominent red warning symbol on the front of the package. FSSAI says the system is intended to provide a simple and easily understandable warning and help consumers make informed food choices, particularly in relation to children and other vulnerable groups.
The proposed thresholds would be based on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Nutrition. The warning would appear in a font size one point larger than the font used in the nutrition information table on the back of the package.
FSSAI has also proposed exemptions for single ingredient food products and foods that are inherently rich in fat, sugar or salt, including ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery and honey, subject to other food safety and labelling requirements.
The issue has gained importance as India faces growing concerns about obesity and changing food consumption patterns. Reuters reported that around 180 million Indian adults were overweight or obese in 2021.
India’s government now faces pressure from two different directions. Public health groups want a system that clearly identifies products high in individual nutrients, while food manufacturers are seeking thresholds and serving calculations that they say better reflect how products are consumed.
For now, the red warning label remains a proposal rather than an implemented nationwide requirement. The final design, nutrient thresholds, exemptions and implementation timetable remain unresolved.
The September 10 Supreme Court hearing is expected to be an important next step in determining how India’s proposed food warning system will develop.