Red hexagonal warning labels could soon become impossible to miss on packets of some of India’s most indulgent packaged foods, as the food regulator moves to put consumers on notice about excessive levels of fat, sugar and salt.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed prominent front-of-pack warnings for packaged foods that are high in specified nutrients of concern, following the Supreme Court’s intervention over the health risks associated with unhealthy diets.
The proposal comes as the court considers a plea highlighting the links between excessive consumption of salt, sugar and unhealthy fats and lifestyle-related conditions, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, FSSAI said it has prepared a proposal to display information about added sugar, added fat and salt prominently on the front of food packages. The aim, it said, is to give consumers a “simple, prominent and easily comprehensible warning” about products containing high levels of these nutrients.
Under the proposed framework, products that are high in any two or more of the specified nutrients would carry a red-coloured hexagonal warning.
The labels could read “HIGH FAT”, “HIGH SUGAR” or “HIGH SALT”, depending on the nutrient involved. A separate warning, “HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE”, could also be used for applicable drinks.
FSSAI has proposed that these warnings be displayed in a font size larger than the text used in the nutrition information panel at the back of the package, making them easier for shoppers to spot before buying a product.
Which foods could be exempt?
The proposed rules would not necessarily apply across the board.
FSSAI has suggested exemptions for single-ingredient foods and products that are naturally or inherently high in fat, sugar or salt. These could include ghee, edible oils, salt, sugar, jaggery and honey, subject to other requirements under existing food safety and labelling regulations.
Warning labels may be introduced in phases
Rather than imposing the proposed system across all products at once, FSSAI has recommended a phased rollout.
Phase I would cover products that are high in two or more specified nutrients, added fat, added sugar and salt, along with specified sweetened beverages.
Phase II would widen the net to products that are high in any one of the specified nutrients.
The regulator said a phased implementation would give consumers time to become familiar with the new labels while allowing food manufacturers adequate time to reformulate products where necessary.
FSSAI’s proposed thresholds are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN).
Under the proposed regulation, a food product would qualify as high in fat, sugar and/or salt when it crosses the specified nutrient thresholds and is high in at least two of the identified nutrients during the first phase.
If implemented, the move would mark a significant shift in India’s food-labelling regime, putting health warnings directly on the front of packages rather than leaving consumers to decode detailed nutritional information printed on the back.
