‘Red alert’ for junk food: FSSAI proposes warning labels on packets
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New Delhi: Packaged foods and beverages loaded with sugar, salt or fat could soon carry prominent red warning labels on the front of the pack, under a proposal put forward by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) before the Supreme Court.
The proposed system targets products that contain two or more nutrients above the prescribed safe limits. A red, hexagonal warning symbol would prominently identify products as HIGH FAT, HIGH SUGAR, HIGH SALT or HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE, making the nutritional risks immediately visible to consumers.
The food safety regulator has argued that such front-of-pack warnings would help people recognise unhealthy products quickly and make more informed choices. The measure is particularly significant for children and other groups vulnerable to diet-related health problems.
The proposal was included in a document submitted to the Supreme Court on August 28, following years of demands from health professionals and civil society groups for clearer nutritional information on packaged foods. Concerns over rising obesity and other health problems have strengthened calls for mandatory warning labels.
The move could put major pressure on companies operating in India’s food and beverage market, valued at more than $100 billion. Industry groups and leading food and beverage manufacturers have previously opposed similar proposals, arguing that such labels could confuse consumers.
The latest push also follows a petition by 3S and Our Health challenging the delay in the introduction of warning labels. The organisation’s lawyer, Rajiv Shankar Dwivedi, said experts were examining the government’s latest proposal.
The proposed red warnings could mark a major shift in how unhealthy packaged products are presented to Indian consumers.