New Delhi, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a new initiative to implement front-of-pack nutrition labeling (FoPL) for packaged food products. This plan includes mandatory red warning labels on packages that exceed acceptable levels of salt, sugar, or fat.
The proposal was submitted through an affidavit to the Supreme Court, which had requested clear timelines from food regulators and the government for implementing these warning labels. Under the proposed system, any packaged food item that contains excessive amounts of these ingredients will display a red hexagon warning label on a white background.
FSSAI officials state that this labeling will help consumers quickly understand the nutritional information of products while shopping, enabling them to make more informed food choices.
Rather than a phased implementation, the regulatory body plans to introduce FoPL in a single step. The warning format is inspired by a model used in Canada, aiming to highlight nutrients that, when consumed in excess, could pose health risks.
If a product exceeds the limit for any one of the specified nutrients—salt, sugar, or fat—a warning label will be required. In such cases, the name of the nutrient will be displayed within the red hexagon. Should a product exceed limits for two or all three nutrients, all relevant nutrients will be listed within the same warning label.
FSSAI clarified that this regulation will apply not only to products with multiple risky nutrients but also to those that exceed the threshold for just one. The goal is to provide consumers with clear, simple, and easily understandable information regarding the nutritional profiles of packaged foods.
Before finalizing these regulations, FSSAI plans to conduct extensive consultations with industry stakeholders and the public. According to the authority, it may take around four months to complete the consultation process and finalize the draft rules under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
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