India's food regulator proposes red-hexagon warning labels for high-salt, sugar foods

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has submitted a detailed compliance affidavit to the Supreme Court outlining a phased red-hexagonal warning label system for packaged foods that exceed safe thresholds for added saturated fat, sugar and salt.

Warning labels to flag products high in two or more risky nutrients

The food regulator's affidavit proposes front-of-pack warnings in red hexagonal shapes carrying text such as 'High Fat', 'High Sugar', 'High Salt' or 'Highly Sweetened Beverage' for products that breach limits for any two or more "nutrients of concern" set under the Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024. The warning font will be one point larger than the nutrition information table printed on the back of packs, enabling customers to quickly spot at-risk foods.

Single-ingredient products and items "inherently rich in fat, sugar or salt, like ghee, edible oil, jaggery, honey" will be exempt from the warning requirement.

Two-stage rollout to allow industry reformulation

FSSAI plans a two-phase implementation to "facilitate consumer acceptability and provide industry adequate time for reformulation". Phase I will cover products high in two or more specified nutrients and sweetened beverages, while Phase II will extend warnings to products exceeding limits for any single nutrient.

The regulator described the proposal as offering "a simple, prominent and easily comprehensible warning to consumers regarding food products which are high in specified nutrients of concern," aligned with international regulations.

Court had warned of public health obligations

The affidavit, filed on Friday, responds to a petition by NGO 3S and Our Health Society represented by advocate Rajiv Shankar Dvivedi, who said the organisation would file a rejoinder after inviting public comments. It follows sharp remarks from a Supreme Court Bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala on August 13 about the State's duty to safeguard public health.

The court had observed that developing and developed nations alike were adopting international food packaging standards. Justice Pardiwala told the government that the Economic Survey had already recommended front-of-pack labelling and implementation should face no obstacles, adding: "We are doing this in public interest. Keep it in mind".

Source: The Hindu