According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, FSSAI has published a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, for public consultation. Stakeholders can submit their objections and suggestions within 60 days.

What Does the Proposed Amendment Say?

The draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, seeks to restrict the addition of sucrose and fructose to infant nutrition products intended for children up to six months of age. Under the existing regulations, FSSAI prescribes nutritional composition, quality, and safety standards for various categories of infant nutrition products intended for children from birth to 24 months.

The current provisions identify lactose and glucose polymers as preferred carbohydrate sources. Manufacturers may add sucrose and/or fructose when required as a carbohydrate source, subject to prescribed limits. The proposed amendment would introduce a specific restriction on these sugars in products intended for infants up to six months of age.

Why Is FSSAI Proposing This Change?

The first six months of life play a crucial role in an infant’s growth and development. Appropriate nutrition during this period supports healthy development and helps establish suitable feeding practices. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the proposed restriction would encourage manufacturers to formulate infant nutrition products according to the specific nutritional needs of this age group, without unnecessary additions of sucrose and fructose. The proposal also supports broader public health efforts to limit early exposure to added sugars, which can contribute to unhealthy dietary patterns and increase long-term risks associated with excessive sugar consumption.

Alignment with Infant Feeding Recommendations

The proposed amendment complements established public health recommendations that promote exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. By strengthening standards for infant nutrition products, FSSAI aims to prioritise age-appropriate nutrition and encourage responsible product formulation.

Next Steps

FSSAI has invited stakeholders to submit objections and suggestions within 60 days of the draft notification’s publication. The regulator will consider the representations before finalising the amendment. Until FSSAI finalises the proposal, the draft does not constitute a new enforceable requirement.

Conclusion

FSSAI’s proposal marks a step towards strengthening nutritional safeguards for infant foods. By restricting the addition of sucrose and fructose to products intended for infants up to six months, the regulator aims to promote age-appropriate formulations and minimise unnecessary exposure to added sugars during early development.

Source: The Telegraph