FSSAI has proposed red front-of-pack warnings for packaged foods high in fat, sugar or salt, marking a shift in its earlier stance on nutrition labelling
India’s food regulator has proposed front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods that are high in fat, sugar or salt, reversing its earlier position amid growing public concern over nutritional information on food products, Reuters reported on Friday.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a red-coloured hexagonal warning label for products that are high in any two or more of three nutrients — fat, sugar or salt, according to a court filing cited by the report.
The filing is not publicly available.
The proposal marks a shift in FSSAI’s position on front-of-pack labelling, an issue that has faced growing scrutiny in India. The regulator had earlier backed a system that would provide consumers with nutritional information through a detailed rating format rather than prominent warning labels.
The proposed system is intended to help consumers identify products with high levels of fat, sugar or salt at a glance, without having to rely solely on detailed nutritional information printed on the back of packages.
The move comes amid rising concerns over the consumption of highly processed and packaged foods and their potential impact on public health, particularly among children.
The proposed red hexagonal symbol would provide a prominent visual warning on the front of packages, allowing consumers to make quicker choices when buying processed food products.
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