The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed introducing a red front-of-pack warning label for processed foods and beverages that contain high levels of sugar, salt or fat, allowing consumers to make more informed choices.
“The warning label shall indicate the applicable declaration, such as ‘HIGH FAT’, ‘HIGH SUGAR’, ‘HIGH SALT’ and/or ‘HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE’ … to enable consumers to readily identify products high in the specified nutrients,” Reuters reported, citing an FSSAI filing in the Supreme Court.
The FSSAI submitted the proposal as the Supreme Court hears petitions from health activists seeking warning labels similar to those used in several Western countries. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court directed the FSSAI to expedite the introduction of such labels.
Major food companies, including Nestle, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, have opposed the move, which could affect sales of products that fall under the proposed warning system.
During its previous hearing, the Supreme Court criticized the FSSAI over delays in implementing mandatory warning labels for packaged foods. While hearing a public interest litigation, the bench stressed that transparent nutritional disclosures can help protect citizens, particularly young children, from health risks such as obesity.
Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran expressed strong dissatisfaction with the regulator’s pace of action and questioned whether authorities were giving sufficient priority to public health.
The bench warned that the court could issue further directions if the executive failed to act independently.
The Supreme Court also rejected arguments that front-of-pack warning labels could unfairly target traditional Indian packaged snacks. The bench said commercial interests cannot take precedence over public health concerns.
The court gave the FSSAI two weeks to establish a clear framework for the proposed labels. The judges also highlighted the aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods to young consumers and said consumers need clear visual warnings on product packaging to understand potential nutritional risks.