FSSAI’s Bold Move: Packaged Food Makers to Evaluate Proposed Nutritional Labeling Changes

In a significant step towards promoting public health and well-being, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved a proposal to highlight nutritional information like total sugars, salt, and saturated fat in big and bold letters on labels of packaged food items. The move aims to increase awareness among consumers about the contents of their food, which is expected to have long-term advantages in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The proposed amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, was approved during the 44th meeting of the food authority. The draft notification will now be put in the public domain for further suggestions and objections. Industry executives have welcomed the move, with some already providing nutritional information on their product packs.

“We will evaluate the suggestions and respond to the authorities with our suggestions and objections (if any),” said Krishnarao Buddha, senior category head at Parle Products. “As a fast-growing economy, there is a need for stricter guidelines for food outlets, and consumers deserve to be informed about the contents of the packaged food. It will make us all healthy and safe, which is of prime importance.”

Nestlé India has also expressed its willingness to comply with the regulations, stating that it has already voluntarily included Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) labelling on the front of its product packs. Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (Amul) has promised to reply once the regulation is uploaded on the FSSAI website for comments.

Experts believe that the proposed amendment could nudge companies to reformulate their products to lower the amount of sugar, salt, and fat as consumers become more aware. “The rule is expected to have long-term advantages in promoting a health-conscious community and lowering the occurrence of NCDs, despite initial hurdles,” said Biplab Lenin, partner at law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.

However, some experts have pointed out that highlighting the text and mandating larger font sizes on the back of packs may not be sufficient to educate consumers. “Many countries like Sri Lanka and Peru have asked brands to highlight the message in the front of the pack and highlight within blurbs of specific dimensions that the product is high in salt, sugar, saturated fats, etc. This has a better impact on enabling change in consumer behaviour,” said K.S. Narayanan, a food and beverage expert.

The FSSAI is also considering a front-of-pack nutrition-labelling (FOPNL) system, along with a star rating to indicate the nutritional value of an item. The packaged consumer food market in India, including dairy, biscuits, snacks, and sweets, is valued at ₹4,240 billion, according to a 2024 report by brokerage Anand Rathi.

The food regulator is also enforcing stricter norms to ensure brands are transparent about their offerings. Earlier this year, it sent advisories to e-commerce platforms requesting they remove the term ‘health drinks’ from beverages and powdered drinks being sold on their platforms. It also directed food business operators (FBOs) to remove any “100% fruit juices” claim from the labels and advertisements of reconstituted fruit juices, among other similar advisories.

Industry experts have warned that the move may require substantial costs, such as reprinting new labels, reformulating products, and repackaging, which could take some time to adapt to. “When it comes down to these big, mid, and small players, they will face substantial costs. The food industry will take some time to adapt to the move, without hampering their operations,” said Alay Razvi, Partner, Accord Juris.

The FSSAI’s bold move is expected to have a significant impact on the food industry, and it remains to be seen how companies will respond to the proposed changes.

Historical Context:

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been working towards promoting public health and well-being by implementing various regulations and guidelines. In 2020, the FSSAI introduced the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, which aimed to ensure that food businesses provide accurate and transparent information to consumers. The current proposal to highlight nutritional information on packaged food labels is a continuation of this effort.

In the past, the FSSAI has taken steps to regulate the food industry, including enforcing stricter norms for labeling and advertising. For instance, in 2022, the authority sent advisories to e-commerce platforms to remove misleading claims from product labels and advertisements.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• The FSSAI has approved a proposal to highlight nutritional information like total sugars, salt, and saturated fat in big and bold letters on labels of packaged food items. • The move aims to increase awareness among consumers about the contents of their food, which is expected to have long-term advantages in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs). • Industry executives have welcomed the move, with some already providing nutritional information on their product packs. • The proposed amendment will be put in the public domain for further suggestions and objections. • Experts believe that the rule could nudge companies to reformulate their products to lower the amount of sugar, salt, and fat as consumers become more aware. • The FSSAI is also considering a front-of-pack nutrition-labelling (FOPNL) system, along with a star rating to indicate the nutritional value of an item. • The packaged consumer food market in India is valued at ₹4,240 billion, according to a 2024 report by brokerage Anand Rathi. • The FSSAI is enforcing stricter norms to ensure brands are transparent about their offerings, including sending advisories to e-commerce platforms and food business operators. • Industry experts have warned that the move may require substantial costs, such as reprinting new labels, reformulating products, and repackaging, which could take some time to adapt to. • The FSSAI’s bold move is expected to have a significant impact on the food industry, and it remains to be seen how companies will respond to the proposed changes.