Start with the FSSAI Mark of Trust
Before anything else, look for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) logo and license number. This is a mandatory mark of certification for all food products sold in India. The presence of this license number signifies that the manufacturer
adheres to the safety and quality standards laid out by the country's food regulator. If you cannot find an FSSAI number, it's a major red flag, and it's best to avoid the product entirely.
Decode the Dietary Symbols: Veg, Non-Veg, and Vegan
India has a clear and mandatory system for dietary classification. For many, this is the quickest and most important check. A green dot inside a green square indicates the product is vegetarian. A brown triangle inside a brown square signifies it is non-vegetarian. This symbol was changed from a circle to a triangle to make it easily distinguishable for individuals with colour blindness. If a product contains only egg as a non-vegetarian ingredient, a specific declaration may accompany the brown symbol. Additionally, FSSAI has introduced a new logo with a 'V' and a leaf to clearly identify vegan products, which are entirely plant-based and contain no animal-derived ingredients, including dairy.
Read the Ingredients List in Order
The ingredient list is your most powerful tool. Ingredients are always listed in descending order by weight. This means the first three items on the list make up the largest portion of the product. If you're buying 'oat' biscuits and the first ingredient is 'maida' (refined flour) followed by sugar, you know the product isn't as healthy as its name suggests. A shorter list with recognisable, easy-to-pronounce ingredients is generally a sign of a less processed food. Also, be aware that sugar can be listed under many different names, such as high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose, or maltose.
Understand the Nutrition Facts Panel
The nutrition panel provides a detailed breakdown per 100g/ml and often per serving. Pay close attention to serving size, as manufacturers can make it deceptively small to make the calorie and sugar counts seem lower. Key things to check are total fat, especially saturated and trans fats (which should ideally be zero), total sugar, and sodium (salt). In August 2026, FSSAI proposed a new front-of-pack red hexagonal warning label for foods high in fat, sugar, or salt, which will make identifying less healthy options even easier for consumers.
Always Check the Dates
This may seem obvious, but it's often overlooked in a hurry. Always find the 'Date of Manufacture' and the 'Best Before' or 'Expiry Date'. This ensures you are buying a product at its peak freshness and safety. Consuming products past their expiry date can pose health risks. This is especially critical for perishable items like milk, bread, and packaged dairy products.
Look for the Jaivik Bharat Logo for Organic Products
The market is flooded with products claiming to be 'organic'. To ensure you are buying genuine organic items, look for the official 'Jaivik Bharat' logo from FSSAI. This logo, which includes a circle, a leaf, and a tick mark, confirms that the product complies with the National Standards for Organic Production. Without this logo, an 'organic' claim on the packaging is not certified.
Inspect the Packaging Itself
Finally, take a moment to examine the physical condition of the package. Avoid anything that is puffy, leaking, dented, torn, or has a broken seal. Damaged packaging can compromise the safety and quality of the food inside by exposing it to air, moisture, and bacteria. This is particularly important for items like snack packets, juice boxes, and canned goods. A pristine package ensures the product has been protected from the factory to the shelf.
