1. Find the FSSAI Mark and Licence Number
The single most important mark of legitimacy on any packaged food product in India is the FSSAI logo and its accompanying 14-digit licence number. This confirms that the manufacturer is registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and is subject
to its regulations. This check is your first line of defence against unregistered or counterfeit products. The number can be verified on the FSSAI's own portal for added assurance. If a product, especially one that is informally packaged, lacks this basic information, it's a significant red flag.
2. Master the Manufacturing and Use-By Dates
Don’t just glance at the dates; understand what they mean. The 'Date of Manufacture' tells you how fresh a product is. The 'Best Before' date is about quality—the food is likely safe to eat after this date, but its taste, texture, or nutritional value might decline. On the other hand, the 'Use By' or 'Expiry' date is a strict safety deadline. This is common for perishable items like milk, bread, and packaged paneer. Consuming food past its 'Use By' date can be a health risk, even if it looks and smells fine.
3. Decode the Ingredient List
Ingredients are always listed in descending order by weight, meaning the first three items make up the bulk of the product. This is where you can spot misleading marketing. A packet of 'oat' biscuits might list refined flour (maida) and sugar as its top two ingredients, with oats appearing much further down. Be wary of products where sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats appear in the first few spots. Also, learn the aliases for sugar, such as glucose syrup, fructose, dextrose, and maltodextrin, as companies often use multiple types to prevent 'sugar' from being the first ingredient.
4. Scan the Nutritional Information
The nutrition panel can seem complex, but focus on a few key figures. First, check the serving size. Manufacturers often use unrealistically small serving sizes to make the calories, sugar, and fat content seem lower. To compare two products fairly, always use the 'per 100g' column, which is a standardized measure. As a general rule, watch out for products with high levels of total sugar (above 15g per 100g is high), sodium (above 600mg per 100g is high), and saturated fats.
5. Inspect the Package Integrity
A damaged package is a direct gateway for bacteria and contaminants. Before putting any item in your cart, give it a quick physical check. For canned goods, reject any that are severely dented, rusted, leaking, or have bulging ends. With flexible packets like chips or milk, avoid those that are puffed up with air or have broken seals. Check glass jars to ensure the safety button on the lid is down and hasn't been popped. For any item with a plastic wrapper or seal, make sure it’s fully intact and hasn't been tampered with.
6. Spot the Mandatory Veg/Non-Veg Symbol
For many Indian households, this is a crucial check. FSSAI mandates a clear symbol to indicate whether a product is vegetarian or contains non-vegetarian ingredients. A green dot inside a green square signifies a vegetarian product. A brown triangle inside a brown square indicates it is non-vegetarian. This rule applies even if a single component of a compound ingredient is non-vegetarian, regardless of its percentage in the final product. The change from a circle to a triangle for the non-veg logo was made to help colour-blind individuals easily distinguish between the two.
