FSSAI has proposed restricting the addition of sucrose and fructose to food products intended for infants up to six months old. (Img: X)
New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed prohibiting the addition of sucrose and fructose to food products intended for infants up to six months of age, in a move aimed at strengthening nutritional safeguards for newborns and young babies.
The proposal seeks to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. The food regulator has published a draft amendment and invited objections, suggestions and comments from stakeholders within 60 days of the notification being made available to the public.
Under the existing regulatory framework, lactose and glucose polymers are preferred carbohydrate sources in infant nutrition products. Sucrose and fructose may be used where required as carbohydrate sources, subject to the prescribed limit that their combined quantity does not exceed 20 per cent of total carbohydrates.
The proposed amendment would introduce an express restriction on adding sucrose and fructose to products intended for infants aged up to six months.
The restriction, as currently drafted, would apply to products intended for babies in this age group. The existing provisions permitting these sweeteners within prescribed limits for products intended for older infants would not be altered by this particular proposal.
The Union Health Ministry has said the proposed change is intended to address concerns surrounding early exposure to added sugars and their potential implications for children's long-term health.
The first six months of life are particularly important for an infant's growth and development, making adequate and appropriate nutrition essential. The government has also linked the proposed restriction to the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding during this period and the need for infant food formulations to prioritise babies' nutritional requirements.
The World Health Organization recommends that children below two years should not be given foods or beverages containing added sugars. Early exposure to excessive sweetness has raised concerns among health experts because of its potential association with unhealthy dietary preferences and longer-term health risks.
The regulatory move comes amid scrutiny of sugar levels in commercially available infant and baby food products. A 2024 investigation by Swiss non-governmental organisation Public Eye raised concerns about differences in the sugar content of certain Nestlé baby food products sold in lower-income markets, including India, compared with products available in some European countries.
The investigation reported that Nestlé's Cerelac products marketed for infants from six months of age contained added sugar in India, while corresponding products sold in countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany were available without added sugar.
The findings intensified the debate over the use of added sugars in food products marketed for young children and prompted further attention from food safety authorities.
Added sugars are sweetening ingredients incorporated during food processing, unlike naturally occurring sugars present in foods such as milk and fruit. Excessive consumption is associated with several health concerns, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Frequent exposure to sugary foods can also contribute to dental decay.
The proposed amendment is now open to public consultation. The FSSAI will consider the suggestions and objections received within the stipulated period before proceeding further with the regulatory process.
