FSSAI Proposes Front-of-Pack Warning Labels for Packaged Foods:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has tightened regulatory scrutiny over misleading food claims and submitted a proposal to the Supreme Court for Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FoPWL).
- While these measures aim to curb deceptive marketing and promote healthier diets, public health experts have flagged critical loopholes in the proposed warning labels that could allow unhealthy foods to escape scrutiny.
- FSSAI proposed a prominent red, hexagonal warning symbol on the front of packaged foods that are High in Fat, Sugar, and/or Salt (HFSS).
- The labels will read “High Sugar”, “High Salt”, “High Fat”, or “Highly Sweetened Beverage” based on nutrient-of-concern thresholds established under the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN).
- The proposed label text is designed to appear in a font size one point larger than that used in the nutrition information table on the back of the pack.
- Phased Implementation:
- Phase I will cover products high in two or more specified nutrients (added fat, added sugar, and salt) and specified sweetened beverages.
- Phase II will extend the warning to products high in any one of these nutrients.
- Exemptions: Single-ingredient food products and foods inherently rich in fat, sugar, or salt (e.g., ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery, and honey) are proposed to be exempted.
