In a recent judgment, a Supreme court Bench directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider introducing mandatory front-of-package warning labels on packaged food products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat.
- Supreme Court Push for Front-of-Package Labelling Reform: In 2025, the Supreme Court of India directed an expert committee under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to recommend amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, for implementing front-of-package labelling.
About Front-of-Package Labelling (FoPL)
- The World Health Organization defines Front-of-Package (FoP) labels as simple, often graphic nutrition information displayed on the front of food packets to help consumers quickly understand the product’s nutritional quality.
Evolution of Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) in India
- The idea of Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) in India was first proposed in 2014 by an expert committee set up in 2013 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
- In 2019, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India released the draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, which included provisions for FOPL.
- The draft regulations proposed the use of colour-coded labels on packaged food products to make nutritional information easier for consumers to understand.
- In December 2019, FOPL was separated from the broader labelling and display regulations for independent consideration.
- On 15 February 2022, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposed adopting the “Health Star Rating” system in its draft regulations for implementing Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL).
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- It alerts consumers about high levels of unhealthy constituents like sugar, sodium, and fats.
- According to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Front-of-Package (FoP) labelling is meant to help consumers easily understand the nutritional information provided on food products.
Need for FoPL in India
- Rising Burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs): India faces a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, linked to high consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods.
- For Example: The 2023 ICMR-INDIAB study found that 101 million people in India (11.4% of the population) have diabetes, with an additional 136 million suffering from prediabetes.
- Making Informed Choices: Traditional labelling often places nutritional data in fine print on the back, which many consumers do not check, leading to uninformed choices.
- Public Health Objective: Supports India’s commitments under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
- Behavioural ‘Nudge’ Effect: Prominent warning labels can discourage excessive consumption of unhealthy nutrients and encourage reformulation by the food industry.
- High Consumption of Packaged Foods: Rapid urbanisation, lifestyle changes, and aggressive marketing have increased dependence on processed and ready-to-eat food products.
Challenges
- Multiple Committees with Limited Results: Several expert committees (2015, 2018, later working groups) were formed, but reports were not always made public, and processes slowed.
- Industry Pushback: Food manufacturers resisted strong warning labels (such as red colour coding for high nutrient content), leading to significant delay in implementation.
- Weak Drafts and Diluted Nutrient Criteria: The 2018 draft mandated red warning labels for nutrients crossing set limits, but the 2019 draft diluted norms by shifting from total sugar to added sugar and from total fat to saturated fat—a move seen as industry-friendly but less informative for consumers.
Way Forward
- Science-Based Nutrient Thresholds: Fix stringent cut-offs for sugar, salt and saturated fat based on recommendations of the World Health Organization and national health data.
- Integration with Broader Public Health Policy: Link FoPL with initiatives like Eat Right India and National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).
- Consumer Awareness Campaigns: Launch nationwide IEC (Information, Education, Communication) campaigns to educate consumers about interpreting FoPL symbols.
About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- FSSAI has been established under Food Safety and Standards, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
- Governance of FSSAI:
- The FSSAI consists of a Chairperson and twenty-two members, with one-third of the members being women.
- The Chairperson of FSSAI is appointed by the Central Government.
- It is assisted by Scientific Committees and Panels in setting standards and the Central Advisory Committee in coordinating with enforcement agencies.
- Functions:
- Framing of Regulations to lay down the Standards and guidelines in relation to articles of food and specifying appropriate systems of enforcing various standards thus notified.
- Laying down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies engaged in certification of food safety management systems for food businesses.
- Laying down procedure and guidelines for accreditation of laboratories and notification of the accredited laboratories.
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18 Feb 2026
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