Industry Odisha Bureau, July 29: India’s packaged food labelling debate has taken a major turn. On August 28, the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposed prominent red warning symbols on the front of packaged foods that contain high levels of saturated fat, sugar, or salt.
If approved, the new labels could change how consumers identify products with high level of nutrients of concern. They could also push food companies to review their recipes and marketing strategies.
What will the new warning labels look like?
Under the proposal, qualifying food products will carry a red hexagonal symbol on the front of the package. The warning could read “HIGH FAT,” “HIGH SUGAR<” “HIGH SALT” or “HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE,” depending on the product.
The aim is to make important nutritional information easier to understand at a glance. Consumers would not have to study the detailed nutrition table on the back of the package to identify products high in these nutrients.
In the first phase, the warnings would apply to products that are high in any two or more of the specified nutrients. These include added saturated fat, added sugar and salt. Highly sweetened beverages would also be covered.
FSSAI has proposed a second phase in which products crossing the prescribed limit for even one of these nutrients could receive a warning. The proposed warning would also be at least one point larger than the font used in the nutrition information table.
Why is FSSAI proposing this?
India already has rules requiring nutritional information on packaged foods. However, consumers often need to read and compare several figures to understand a product’s nutritional profile.
A front-of-pack warning would make this information more visible before a purchase. It could also encourage manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar, salt, or unsaturated fat in their products.
The proposal follows pressure from the Supreme Court. On August 13, the court questioned the Centre and FSSAI over the lack of progress on front-of-pack warnings. The authorities were given two weeks to reconsider their position.
What does this mean for food companies?
The proposal is not yet a final regulation. Food companies are therefore not required to immediately change their packaging.
It will still have to go through the required regulatory process. Its final design, scope and implementation timeline could change.
However, if adopted, the new system could have a major impact on the packaged food companies. Products carrying prominent warnings could face greater scrutiny from consumers. Manufacturers may also have an incentive to reformulate products to avoid such labels.
Meanwhile,, for consumers, the biggest change would be simple – nutritional risks that currently require a closer look could become visible on the front of the pack.
