The Battle in the Grocery Aisle
For years, the crucial information about what’s inside our packaged food—specifically, the levels of salt, sugar, and fat—has been tucked away in complex tables on the back of the pack. But as India faces a growing crisis of obesity and lifestyle diseases
like diabetes and heart conditions, a push to make this information simpler and more visible has intensified. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is at the center of this storm, tasked with deciding on a new Front-of-Pack Labelling (FoPL) system. The goal is to help consumers, at a single glance, understand if a product is high in nutrients that can be harmful in excess. However, the path to a final decision has been fraught with delays, intense lobbying, and conflicting proposals.
Option 1: The Health Star Rating
One of the main proposals, initially favoured by the FSSAI and many large food corporations, is the Health Star Rating (HSR). This system rates a product on a scale, typically from half a star to five stars, based on its overall nutritional profile. It calculates a score by balancing negative nutrients (fat, sugar, salt) with positive ones (fibre, protein, fruit content). Proponents argue it provides a holistic view. However, public health experts and consumer groups have raised serious concerns. They argue that the HSR system can create a misleading 'health halo'. For example, a sugary breakfast cereal might receive a high star rating because it's fortified with fibre and vitamins, masking its unhealthy sugar content and confusing shoppers who are trying to make a healthy choice.
Option 2: Clear Warning Labels
The alternative, strongly backed by medical professionals and health advocates, is a system of clear, interpretive warning labels. This model, successfully implemented in countries like Chile and Mexico, uses simple, unambiguous symbols—often octagonal stop signs—to state clearly if a product is 'High in Sugar', 'High in Salt', or 'High in Fat'. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests these direct warnings are far more effective. A study commissioned by the FSSAI itself from IIM-Ahmedabad found that warning labels were the most effective format for helping Indian consumers identify unhealthy products, yet the initial draft regulations still leaned towards HSR. This has led to accusations that the regulator was prioritising industry interests over public health.
The Supreme Court Steps In
After years of deadlock, the debate has reached the Supreme Court, which has sharply criticised the delays. The court has repeatedly urged the FSSAI to finalise regulations, emphasizing that public health, especially that of children, cannot be compromised for commercial interests. This judicial pressure has marked a turning point. In late 2026, the FSSAI submitted a new proposal to the court, finally leaning towards a warning label system. The proposal outlines prominent, red-coloured hexagonal warnings for products high in added fat, sugar, and salt.
What the New Labels Might Look Like
According to the latest proposal filed in court, the FSSAI plans a phased rollout of these red hexagonal warnings. In the first phase, labels would be required on products that are high in two or more of the concerning nutrients (fat, sugar, salt). A later phase would extend this to products high in even a single nutrient. The labels would carry simple text like 'High Sugar' or 'High Salt' in a font size larger than the current nutrition table, making them impossible to miss. However, some exemptions are proposed for single-ingredient products like ghee, honey, and sugar. While health advocates have welcomed the shift to warnings, some remain cautious about the phased approach, arguing that any food high in even one harmful nutrient should be labelled immediately.
