What Exactly Is Changing?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed the Supreme Court of its plan to introduce a mandatory Front-of-Pack Labelling (FoPL) system. This system will feature a prominent, red-coloured hexagonal symbol on food products that
are high in salt, sugar, or saturated fat. The label will clearly state declarations like “HIGH SUGAR,” “HIGH SALT,” or “HIGH FAT” in a font size larger than the nutritional information on the back, making it impossible to miss. This move comes after years of debate and delay, and follows a sharp reprimand from the nation's highest court, which questioned the FSSAI's slow pace on a critical public health issue.
Why the Supreme Court Stepped In
The Supreme Court's intervention was prompted by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a health-focused NGO, which highlighted the link between poorly labelled processed foods and rising obesity, particularly in children. The court criticised the FSSAI for not prioritising citizen health and for previously backtracking on stronger labelling proposals. Justices noted that clear, interpretive labels are essential to protect the public's right to health and that commercial interests cannot be placed above it. The court gave the government a strict deadline to finalise its stance, warning it would issue its own directives if the FSSAI failed to act decisively.
Warning Labels vs. Health Stars: A Long Debate
For years, the debate in India was not about whether to have front-of-pack labels, but what kind. Many food industry groups and, for a time, the FSSAI itself, favoured a 'Health Star Rating' (HSR) system. This model, similar to energy ratings on appliances, would assign stars based on a product's overall nutritional profile. However, public health experts and consumer organisations argued that star ratings can be misleading. They warned that companies could game the system by adding small amounts of 'positive' nutrients like fibre or protein to get more stars for a product that is still fundamentally high in sugar, fat, or salt. Evidence from countries like Chile and Mexico shows that simple, direct warning labels are more effective at helping consumers, including those with low literacy, identify unhealthy products.
How the New 'Red Hexagon' Will Work
According to the affidavit filed in court, the FSSAI's new proposal involves a two-phase rollout. In the first phase, the red hexagonal warning will be mandatory for any product that is high in two or more of the concerning nutrients (sugar, salt, fat). In the second phase, the rule will be extended to products high in even a single one of these nutrients. The thresholds for what constitutes 'high' will be based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for Indians issued by the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition. Certain single-ingredient products like ghee, edible oil, and pure sugar or jaggery will be exempt from these specific warnings but must still comply with other regulations.
The Industry's Resistance and What's Next
The push for warning labels has faced significant resistance from major players in the food and beverage industry. Industry associations have argued that such labels could be confusing and unfairly penalise traditional Indian snacks, potentially covering a vast majority of products in red warnings. Despite this pushback, the Supreme Court's firm stance and growing public awareness have forced a change in direction. While the FSSAI has now officially proposed the red hexagon, it is not yet law. The proposal must go through the formal regulatory process of amendments and public comments before it appears on store shelves. However, the signal is clear: a major shift in how food companies communicate with consumers is on the horizon.
