The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a single-phase system for front-of-pack nutrition labelling on packaged food products, with prominent warnings for high levels of fat, salt and sugar.
The proposal was submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday in response to questions raised by the court regarding the design, size, placement and implementation timeline of the proposed Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FoPL) system.
Under the proposed format, a red hexagon with a white background would be placed on the front of packaged food products. The label would clearly indicate whether a product contains high levels of any one of the specified nutrients or two or more of them.
FSSAI said products containing high levels of fat, salt or sugar would be covered under the proposed system. If more than one nutrient crosses the prescribed threshold, the relevant nutrients would be mentioned together inside the warning symbol.
The authority has proposed using threshold values for added sugar, added fat used for cooking and salt per 100 grams or 100 millilitres. These values would be based on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN).
FSSAI has also proposed that the warning label be placed prominently at the top-left portion of the front of the package. The font would be larger than the nutrition information typically displayed on the back of the pack to ensure visibility.
The authority said it would prefer mentioning added sugar and added fat rather than total sugar and saturated fat. It argued that this approach would provide consumers with more relevant information while reducing the possibility of manufacturers altering formulations in response to the labelling requirements.
The proposed design takes inspiration from Canada's food labelling system. FSSAI said pictorial representations of nutrients could create confusion and therefore proposed using clear text inside the warning symbol.
The authority also proposed separate front-of-pack information for beverages containing non-caloric sweeteners so that consumers can identify their presence.
FSSAI said food businesses would be given a transition period of 365 days after notification of the final regulations. The draft regulations are expected to undergo consultation and finalisation over approximately four months, with notification targeted for July 1 next year.
The proposal was submitted in a public interest litigation filed by 3S and Our Health Society, which sought stronger front-of-pack warnings to help consumers, particularly children, identify products containing high levels of nutrients associated with health concerns.
The Supreme Court had earlier asked FSSAI to consider whether products high in sugar, salt or fat should be covered under a single-phase system.
The court had also raised concerns that reducing salt, sugar and fat in packaged foods could lead manufacturers to increase the use of preservatives, emulsifiers or other additives. FSSAI has been asked to address this potential issue through appropriate regulations.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider the FSSAI affidavit on September 28, when further directions may be issued.
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