FSSAI Proposes Red Warning Labels on Packaged Foods: What Could Change

Packaged foods containing high levels of added sugar, fat or salt could soon carry prominent warning labels on the front of the packet.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a new front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FoPL) system to help consumers quickly identify packaged foods that exceed specified nutritional limits.

The proposal was outlined in a fresh compliance affidavit submitted by FSSAI before the Supreme Court.

A major change from the regulator’s earlier plan is that FSSAI now proposes a single-phase rollout instead of implementing the warning system in two phases.

Under the proposed system, a packaged food could receive a warning if even one of three nutrients — added sugar, added fat or salt — crosses the prescribed limit.

What Is Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling?

Front-of-pack nutrition labelling is designed to give consumers important nutritional information directly on the front of a food package.

Instead of requiring shoppers to study the detailed nutrition table on the back of a packet, the proposed warning would make it easier to identify products that exceed specified limits for certain nutrients.

The proposal is part of FSSAI’s efforts to improve nutrition awareness and informed food choices.

What Will the FSSAI Warning Label Look Like?

FSSAI has proposed a red hexagonal warning symbol on a white square background.

The label would be placed prominently on the top-left portion of the front of the food package.

The proposed system would work as follows:

• If one nutrient exceeds the prescribed limit, that nutrient would be mentioned inside the red hexagon.
• If two nutrients cross their limits, both would be mentioned in the same warning.
• If all three nutrients exceed their limits, all applicable nutrients would appear inside one hexagonal warning.
• The warning text would use a font at least one point larger than the font used in the nutrition information table on the back of the package.

FSSAI has proposed using the Canadian model to determine the appropriate size of the warning label.

Why Did FSSAI Propose a Red Hexagon?

The Supreme Court had asked FSSAI to clarify several aspects of the proposed front-of-pack warning system, including the use of pictorial symbols.

FSSAI has said that using separate pictorial symbols for different nutrients could potentially create confusion, particularly when a product exceeds the limits for more than one nutrient.

The regulator has therefore proposed a single warning format that can include multiple nutrients.

FSSAI has also addressed concerns about possible confusion with the existing non-vegetarian food symbol.

According to the proposal, the two symbols would have different designs. The existing non-vegetarian symbol is a brown square with a triangle, while the proposed nutrition warning would be a red hexagon on a white square background.

How Much Sugar, Fat or Salt Could Trigger a Warning?

FSSAI has proposed nutrient thresholds based on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN).

Some of the thresholds mentioned in the affidavit include:

These limits are proposed to apply regardless of whether the food is minimally processed or highly processed.

FSSAI has maintained that nutrition content should remain the primary regulatory criterion because processing and nutritional composition are separate concepts.

Why Is FSSAI Focusing on Added Sugar and Added Fat?

One of the notable aspects of the proposal is FSSAI’s focus on added sugar and added fat, rather than total sugar and saturated fat.

The regulator has pointed out that naturally occurring sugars, such as those present in fruits and milk, are different from sugars added during food processing or preparation.

Similarly, FSSAI has said that focusing only on saturated fat may not fully reflect concerns related to excessive overall fat consumption.

The proposed approach is therefore intended to help consumers distinguish between naturally occurring nutrients and ingredients added during food preparation or processing.

What About Trans Fat?

Trans fat would continue to be regulated separately.

FSSAI already has specific requirements relating to trans-fat limits and disclosure, so it would not be treated in exactly the same way as the proposed added sugar, added fat and salt warnings.

Will Beverages Also Carry Front-of-Pack Information?

Yes. The proposal also covers several categories of beverages.

These may include:

• Carbonated and non-carbonated water-based drinks
• Fruit drinks
• Fruit syrups and sharbats
• Caffeinated beverages
• Certain fruit-based beverages

For specified beverage categories, the category name may need to appear on the front of the package even when the product does not cross the proposed nutrient limits.

If a beverage exceeds the applicable sugar or salt threshold, the corresponding warning would also be displayed.

What About Non-Caloric Sweeteners?

FSSAI has proposed a separate front-of-pack disclosure for products containing non-caloric sweeteners.

Such products may need to display the statement:

“CONTAINS NON-CALORIC SWEETENER”

The declaration is currently provided on the back of the package, but the proposal would bring it to the front for greater visibility.

When Could These Warning Labels Appear on Food Packets?

Consumers should not expect the new labels immediately.

FSSAI has told the Supreme Court that it would require approximately four months to draft and finalise the proposed regulations.

The process would involve:

1. Preparing the draft regulations.
2. Publishing them for 60 days to invite comments from stakeholders.
3. Reviewing the feedback received.
4. Finalising the regulations.
5. Sending them to the ministry for publication in the Official Gazette.

Even after the regulations are officially notified, food businesses would receive an additional 365-day voluntary implementation period.

Why Is There a One-Year Transition Period?

FSSAI has proposed the 365-day transition period partly to prevent commercial difficulties for food companies that already have large quantities of pre-printed packaging.

Companies would therefore have time to update their packaging and introduce the new labels without immediately discarding existing packaging materials.

The regulator has described the period as necessary to avoid potential commercial hardships for food businesses.

FSSAI Plans Consumer Awareness Campaigns

The proposed labelling system would also be accompanied by consumer awareness initiatives.

FSSAI has proposed measures such as:

• Information pamphlets in regional and vernacular languages
• Awareness programmes by states and Union Territories
• Nutrition and food-safety awareness initiatives
• Greater nutrition literacy in schools

The objective would be to help consumers understand the meaning of the new warnings rather than simply introducing another symbol on food packaging.

What Could the New Food Labels Mean for Consumers?

If the proposal is implemented, consumers could get nutritional information more prominently at the point of purchase.

Instead of relying only on detailed nutrition tables, shoppers could potentially identify products exceeding specified levels of added sugar, added fat or salt through a visible front-of-pack warning.

However, the proposal is still part of the regulatory process. The final design, thresholds, implementation timeline and other provisions could change following stakeholder feedback and the government’s final notification.

FAQs

What is FSSAI’s new front-of-pack labelling proposal?

It is a proposed system under which packaged foods could display prominent warnings on the front of the package when specified levels of added sugar, added fat or salt are exceeded.

What will the proposed warning symbol look like?

FSSAI has proposed a red hexagonal warning on a white square background, positioned prominently on the front of the package.

Which nutrients could trigger a warning?

The proposed system focuses on added sugar, added fat and salt.

Will the rules apply to beverages?

Yes. Several beverage categories are included in the proposal, with additional front-of-pack information proposed for certain drinks.

When will the new labels become mandatory?

The proposal is not immediately mandatory. FSSAI has indicated that it would need around four months to finalise the draft regulations, followed by the regulatory process and a proposed 365-day voluntary implementation period after notification.

Why is FSSAI introducing front-of-pack warnings?

The proposed system is intended to make nutritional information more visible and help consumers make more informed choices when purchasing packaged foods.

Conclusion

FSSAI’s proposed front-of-pack nutrition labelling system could bring a significant change to the way nutritional information is displayed on packaged foods in India.