Packaged food labelling in India could soon look very different. FSSAI has filed a proposal with the Supreme Court outlining a Front-of-Pack (FoP) warning label system for foods that are high in added sugar, fat, or salt, a step that’s been under discussion for a while but is now taking concrete shape.
What’s being proposed
According to the affidavit, the FoP label will be a red-coloured hexagon, using a font size at least one point larger than what currently appears on the back-of-pack nutrition table. The intent is a label that’s simple, visible, and quickly readable, helping consumers make informed choices without needing to decode a full nutrition panel.
The warning will apply when a product is high in specified nutrients of concern, based on thresholds drawn from the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition‘s 2024 dietary guidelines. Applicable declarations may include “High Fat,” “High Sugar,” “High Salt,” or “High Sweetened Beverage.”
A phased rollout
Recognising that manufacturers need time to reformulate, FSSAI has proposed implementation in two phases:
- Phase I: Products high in two or more of added fat, added sugar, and salt, plus specified sweetened beverages
- Phase II: Extended to products high in even a single nutrient of concern
Certain single-ingredient foods, including ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery, and honey, will be exempt from FoP labelling, though they’ll continue to be governed under other food safety and labelling regulations.
Why this matters
This development follows scrutiny from the Supreme Court, which has been hearing a public interest litigation seeking mandatory FoP warnings on high fat, sugar, and salt foods. For food businesses, the direction is becoming clearer: nutrient-based labelling isn’t a distant possibility anymore, it’s moving into active regulatory design.
At NXG Food Safety Works, we’ll continue tracking this development closely and will share guidance as the framework firms up, so our clients can plan reformulation, labelling, and compliance timelines well ahead of any notification.
Source: Reported by ThePrint, 28 August 2026. Read the original report here.