New Delhi, August 29: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed placing prominent red warning labels on the front of packaged food products that contain high levels of added fat, sugar or salt.
In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the food regulator said the proposed labels are aimed at helping consumers quickly understand when a product contains excessive amounts of certain nutrients.
Under the proposal, a red hexagonal warning symbol would appear on the front of the pack with messages such as “High Fat”, “High Sugar”, “High Salt” or “Highly Sweetened Beverage”, depending on the product.
The system would initially apply to products that are high in two or more specified nutrients, based on thresholds mentioned in the 2024 Dietary Guidelines for Indians issued by ICMR-NIN. A second phase would cover products high in any one of the specified nutrients.
FSSAI said the warning would be displayed prominently, with its font size kept one point larger than the nutrition information table printed on the back of the package.
Certain products, including ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery, honey and single-ingredient foods, have been proposed for exemption, subject to other food safety and labelling requirements.
The proposal was submitted following the Supreme Court’s August 13 direction during the hearing of a petition seeking mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods.
