The Regulator: Who Makes the Rules?
In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the governing body responsible for setting and enforcing food safety regulations. These rules, outlined in the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, dictate
exactly what information must be present on all pre-packaged food products sold in the country. The primary goal is to ensure transparency and empower consumers to make safe, informed choices about what they eat. The information must be clear, easily readable, and presented in either English or Hindi.
Decoding the Ingredient List
One of the most crucial parts of any food label is the list of ingredients. By law, all ingredients must be listed in descending order of their weight or volume at the time of manufacture. This means the ingredient that makes up the most of the product is listed first. This simple rule helps you quickly gauge the main components of a food item. For example, if sugar is one of the first few ingredients, you know the product is high in sugar. The list must also declare any food additives used, such as preservatives, colours, or flavouring agents, along with their specific class title or international numerical identification (INS) number.
Allergen Alerts: A Critical Safety Warning
For individuals with food allergies, the allergen declaration is the most important part of a label. FSSAI has mandated that specific common allergens must be clearly declared. These include cereals containing gluten (like wheat), crustaceans, milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, and soybeans. If sulphites are present in a concentration of 10mg/kg or more, they must also be declared. This information is usually found in a separate box with a title like 'Contains' or 'Allergen Information'. Additionally, if there's a risk of cross-contamination during manufacturing, labels must include a 'May Contain' statement.
The Nutritional Dashboard
Every pre-packaged food item must display a nutritional information panel. This panel provides key details per 100g/100ml or per serving, including the energy value (in kcal), protein, total carbohydrates (including total sugars and added sugars), total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Recent FSSAI proposals aim to make this information even more prominent, requiring details on total sugar, salt, and saturated fat to be displayed in a bolder and larger font. This allows you to quickly assess the health impact of a product and see how it contributes to your recommended daily allowance (RDA).
The Green and Brown Dots Explained
A unique feature of Indian food labelling is the mandatory declaration for vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods. A green dot inside a green square indicates that the food is lacto-vegetarian. A brown triangle inside a brown square signifies that the product is non-vegetarian, meaning it contains whole or part of any animal, including birds, fish, and eggs, but excluding milk products and honey. This symbol must be prominently displayed near the product's name to help consumers easily identify its nature based on their dietary preferences or religious beliefs.
Looking Ahead: Front-of-Pack Warnings
To further simplify healthy eating choices, FSSAI has informed the Supreme Court of its plan to introduce Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FoPL). This system will use a distinct red hexagonal symbol to provide a clear, at-a-glance warning if a product is high in added sugar, salt, or fat. The label will be placed on the top left of the package for easy visibility. This move aims to combat the rise of non-communicable diseases linked to high consumption of these nutrients by making it easier for shoppers to spot less healthy options without having to read the fine print.
