1. The Veg/Non-Veg Symbol
This is perhaps the most crucial and unique aspect of Indian food labelling. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) mandates a clear symbol to identify the nature of the product. A green dot inside a green square signifies a vegetarian
product. A brown triangle inside a brown square indicates it is non-vegetarian. This symbol was changed from a brown circle to a triangle to help those with colour blindness easily distinguish between the two. For many Indians, this is a non-negotiable first check for dietary, cultural, or religious reasons. It's typically located prominently on the front of the pack.
2. Date of Manufacture and Expiry
This is the most fundamental safety check. Every pre-packaged food must have a 'Date of Manufacture' or 'Date of Packaging' and an 'Expiry Date' or 'Use By' date. The 'Expiry/Use By' date is the last day the manufacturer guarantees the product's safety. The 'Best Before' date, on the other hand, indicates quality—the food might be safe to eat after this date but may have lost some flavour or texture. Checking both dates is vital, as recent raids have exposed illegal operations that erase and reprint fake expiry dates on old products. Always ensure the packaging is intact and not tampered with.
3. The First Three Ingredients
The front of the pack is marketing; the back is information. The ingredients are always listed in descending order by weight. This means the first three ingredients make up the bulk of what you're eating. If a 'multigrain' biscuit lists 'maida' (refined flour) and 'sugar' first, with millets appearing much later, you know it's primarily a refined-flour product. This three-ingredient scan is the fastest way to see past health claims like 'natural' or 'high-fibre' and understand what the food is truly made of.
4. Total Sugar and Its Hidden Names
The nutrition table is mandatory, but manufacturers often use a 'serving size' trick to make numbers look smaller. For a fair comparison between products, always check the 'per 100g' column. Pay close attention to 'Total Sugar'. As a general rule, anything over 22g per 100g is high. Also, scan the ingredients list for sugar's many aliases. Words like sucrose, fructose, maltodextrin, glucose syrup, corn syrup, invert sugar, and fruit juice concentrate are all forms of sugar. Companies often use several different types so that 'sugar' doesn't appear as the top ingredient.
5. The FSSAI Logo and Licence Number
Every legitimate food product sold in India must display the FSSAI logo and a 14-digit licence number. This signifies that the food business operator (FBO) is registered with the food safety authority and complies with its regulations. The absence of this logo and number is a major red flag. For extra assurance, you can verify the licence number on the FSSAI's official FoSCoS portal to check the operator's name, address, and the validity of their licence. This simple check helps protect you from counterfeit or unregistered products that may not adhere to safety standards.
6. Allergen Declaration
For those with food allergies, this is a critical safety check. FSSAI regulations mandate that common allergens must be clearly declared. These often include substances like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, wheat, and eggs. You'll typically find this information in the ingredients list, often printed in bold type to make it stand out. Taking a moment to scan for this information can prevent serious, and sometimes life-threatening, allergic reactions.
