FSSAI proposes front-of-pack warning labels for foods high in salt, sugar or fat
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed introducing front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods that are high in nutrients such as salt, sugar or fat.
Under the proposed Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FoPL) system, a product would receive a warning if it exceeds the specified threshold for even one nutrient of concern. The thresholds would be based on the ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024.
The proposed warning would feature a red hexagon on a white square background and would be placed on the top left of the front of the package. The nutrient crossing the threshold would be identified inside the hexagon. If two or three nutrients cross the thresholds, they would be displayed together in a single hexagon. The warning text would be at least one point larger than the nutrition information on the back of the pack.
The proposed criteria would apply regardless of how processed a food is. FSSAI has also proposed using added sugar and added fat, rather than total sugar and saturated fat, for the relevant criteria.
The authority is also considering a front-of-pack declaration reading “CONTAIN NON CALORIC SWEETENER” for foods and beverages containing non-caloric sweeteners. The declaration is currently provided on the back of the pack.
FSSAI has said it does not propose separate pictorial symbols for each nutrient, as multiple symbols could cause confusion or misinterpretation.
The authority is proposing a single-phase implementation. It expects to take around four months to issue and finalise the draft regulations, which would then be published for 60 days for stakeholder comments. Food businesses would receive a 365-day voluntary implementation period to reduce commercial hardship, particularly for products with packaging already printed under existing rules.