Significant Updates

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to finalise and notify the long-pending Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) regulations within a defined timeline, stating that consumers need clear and easy-to-understand nutrition information on packaged foods. The recommendation appears in the committee’s report, “Regulation of Packaged Commodities with Specific Reference to Sugar Content in Baby Products and Other Food Products,” which was presented in Parliament on Thursday.

Two-Year Delay Raises Consumer Concerns

The committee noted that FSSAI published the draft FOPNL regulations on September 13, 2022, and has since received more than 14,000 stakeholder comments, which remain under examination. It expressed concern that more than two years have passed without finalising the regulations, leaving consumers without simplified front-of-pack nutrition information, particularly on sugar content.

Current Labels Are Difficult for Many Consumers

According to the panel, the increasing consumption of packaged and ultra-processed foods makes it essential for consumers to access nutrition information that is simple and easy to interpret. The committee observed that existing food labels mainly display numerical values such as nutrient quantities in grams and the percentage of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), which many consumers may find difficult to understand while making purchasing decisions.

It added that the absence of interpretative tools, such as warning labels or colour-coded indicators, limits the effectiveness of current labels in helping consumers identify healthier products.

Panel Recommends Colour-Coded Sugar Indicators

To make nutrition information more accessible, the committee recommended that FSSAI introduce simple, front-of-pack interpretative labels that consumers can understand at a glance. It specifically proposed a three-colour system—red, yellow and green—to indicate high, medium and low sugar levels in packaged food products.

The panel also recommended mandatory warning labels on products high in sugar, enabling consumers to make healthier and more informed dietary choices.

Committee Calls for Stronger Consumer Protection

The committee stressed that front-of-pack nutrition labels should provide clear, visible and easily understandable information that empowers consumers at the point of purchase. It said timely implementation of the regulations would strengthen consumer awareness, improve transparency in food labelling, and support healthier food choices across India.

Source: The Telegraph Online