What Is the Proposed New System?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put forward a new front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) system for packaged foods. Instead of forcing consumers to hunt for tiny nutrition tables on the back, this system would place a clear warning
label on the front. In a recent affidavit to the Supreme Court, the FSSAI proposed a prominent, red, hexagonal symbol to alert shoppers when a product contains high levels of added sugar, saturated fat, or salt. The labels would clearly state things like "High Sugar" or "High Salt," taking the guesswork out of identifying unhealthy products. This move comes after years of debate and pressure from public health advocates and the Supreme Court to make food labels more user-friendly.
How Would the Warning Labels Work?
The FSSAI's proposal outlines a phased rollout. Initially, the red hexagonal warning would be mandatory for products that are high in two or more of the concerning nutrients: added sugar, saturated fat, or salt. Highly sweetened beverages would also fall under this initial phase. The thresholds for what is considered "high" would be based on the 2024 Dietary Guidelines for Indians, developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN). In a later, second phase, the plan is to extend the warning to products that are high in even one of these nutrients. However, a firm timeline for this second phase has not yet been specified, a point of concern for some health advocates.
Why Is This Change Being Considered Now?
The push for clearer food labels is driven by a growing public health crisis in India. The country is experiencing a rapid rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like obesity, diabetes, and heart conditions, which are closely linked to diets high in processed foods. Currently, nutritional information is often buried in complex tables on the back of packaging, which many consumers find difficult to read and interpret quickly. Studies show that consumers spend only a few seconds looking at labels before making a purchase. Health experts and global bodies like the World Health Organization argue that simple, interpretive front-of-pack labels are crucial to help people make healthier choices, especially in a country with varying literacy levels. The Supreme Court's recent intervention has accelerated the process, pushing the FSSAI to move beyond complex data and toward simple, direct warnings.
From Stars to Warnings: An Evolving Debate
Before settling on the red hexagon proposal, the FSSAI was considering a different model known as the Indian Nutrition Rating (INR). This system, similar to the Health Star Ratings used in some other countries, would have assigned products a score from half a star (least healthy) to five stars (healthiest). However, many public health experts criticized the star-rating system. They argued it could be misleading, as it allows manufacturers to use "positive" nutrients like protein or fibre to offset high levels of sugar, fat, and salt, potentially giving an unhealthy product a deceptively high star rating. Warning labels, by contrast, are non-compensatory; they simply flag the presence of unhealthy ingredients, which research suggests is more effective in helping consumers identify unhealthy products.
Potential Loopholes and Expert Concerns
While the move toward warning labels is largely supported, some experts have pointed out potential weaknesses in the current proposal. A major concern is the initial two-nutrient requirement. Critics argue that a product could be extremely high in sugar but escape a warning label in the first phase simply because it isn't also high in salt or fat. This "double trigger" system, they say, could let many unhealthy products slip through the net. There are also questions about the FSSAI's focus on "added" sugar and "added" saturated fat, as some consumer groups note that the ICMR's dietary guidelines refer to total sugar and fat, which are easier to measure and more comprehensive. These details will be critical as the proposal moves toward final regulation.
