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India’s Packaged Food Labels Could Get a Major Health Warning Upgrade (Image: Pintrest)
New Delhi, September 23: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a new nutrition warning system for packaged food products, under which items high in salt, sugar or fat may soon carry prominent red warning labels on the front of their packaging.
The proposal was submitted before the Supreme Court through an affidavit after the court sought details from the food regulator and the government regarding the timeline for implementing Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FoPL).
According to the proposed framework, packaged food products crossing specified limits for nutrients of concern will have to display a red hexagon symbol on a white square background on the front side of the pack. The warning label will identify whether the product contains excessive levels of sugar, salt or fat, allowing consumers to quickly understand the nutritional information while making purchasing decisions.
FSSAI has proposed implementing the FoPL system in a single phase, rather than introducing the regulations gradually. The food regulator said the warning format has similarities with the model followed in Canada and is designed to highlight nutrients that may create health concerns when consumed beyond recommended levels.
Under the proposed rules, a packaged food product would require a warning label if it exceeds the limit for even one nutrient of concern. For example, if a product contains excessive sugar, but does not cross the limit for salt or fat, the warning symbol would specifically mention sugar. Similarly products exceeding limits for two or three nutrients would display all applicable warnings inside the same symbol.
FSSAI said the objective of the proposed framework is to provide consumers with simple and visible nutritional information at the point of purchase. The regulator believes the warning system will help people identify products with high levels of certain nutrients and encourage more informed food choices.
The proposed regulations will undergo consultation with the public and industry stakeholders before final approval. FSSAI has estimated that it may take around four months to prepare and finalise the draft regulations after completing consultations and following procedures under the Food Safety and Standards Act and related rules.
