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The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over its delay in introducing front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. A Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking clear warnings to help consumers identify potential nutritional risks in packaged foods.

The Court gave the Centre and FSSAI two weeks to place their final decision on record, warning that it could issue its own directions if the government failed to act.

Court Questions FSSAI’s Approach

The Bench questioned whether pressure from food manufacturers was influencing FSSAI’s position on warning labels. It stressed that the proposal was not intended to target or ban any particular product but to ensure consumers receive clear information about nutritional risks. The Court also questioned whether FSSAI intended to introduce the measure independently or whether judicial intervention would be necessary.

FSSAI Proposes Nutrition Table Instead

FSSAI’s latest proposal does not introduce prominent warnings such as High in Sugar, High in Salt or High in Saturated Fat on the front of food packages. Instead, it proposes a numerical nutrition table displaying the amounts of added sugar, saturated fat and salt, along with serving-size information and recommended daily limits.

The proposed limits are 25 grams of added sugar, 10 grams of saturated fat and 5 grams of salt, based on the 2024 ICMR dietary guidelines for Indians. The petitioner, however, has opposed the approach, arguing that numerical information requires consumers to calculate and interpret nutritional risks, whereas a warning label provides a simpler and more immediate indication.

Centre Raises Concerns Over Traditional Foods

Additional Solicitor General Brijender Chahar, appearing for the Centre and FSSAI, argued that applying warning thresholds could create difficulties for traditional Indian foods and small food businesses. He pointed to foods such as namkeen, which can naturally contain higher levels of salt or fat. The Bench questioned whether such concerns should outweigh public health considerations, particularly for children. It also noted that warning labels would inform consumers without preventing them from purchasing a product.

India’s Long-Running Labelling Debate

FSSAI has been considering front-of-pack labelling for several years. Earlier proposals included the Indian Nutrition Rating (INR), a star-rating system based on the overall nutritional profile of packaged foods.

Consumer and public-health groups opposed the system, arguing that an overall rating could make some products appear healthier even when they contain high levels of sugar, salt or unhealthy fats. The Supreme Court subsequently asked FSSAI to consider mandatory front-of-pack warning labels for foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat.

The Court’s latest intervention puts renewed pressure on the Centre and FSSAI to finalise their position. The decision could shape how packaged foods communicate nutritional risks to Indian consumers.

Source: India Today 

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