FSSAI Proposes Red Hexagon Warnings on Packaged Foods High in Fat, Sugar, Salt

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a new labelling regime that would require packaged foods high in fat, sugar, or salt to carry prominent red hexagonal warnings on the front of their packs. The move follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which had asked the regulator to act on a plea linking such nutrients to lifestyle diseases including diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions.

In an affidavit submitted to the Court, FSSAI said the proposal is designed to provide a simple and easily comprehensible warning to consumers. The labels would carry declarations such as "HIGH FAT," "HIGH SUGAR," "HIGH SALT," or "HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE," depending on the product's composition.

The regulator has suggested that the warning appear in a font size larger than the nutrition information table typically printed on the back of packages. It has also proposed exemptions for single-ingredient foods and items that are naturally rich in these nutrients, such as ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery, and honey, subject to other labelling requirements.

FSSAI has recommended a phased implementation to allow industry time for reformulation and to ease consumer acceptance. The first phase would cover products high in any two or more specified nutrients—added fat, added sugar, and salt—as well as sweetened beverages. The second phase would extend the requirement to products high in any one of these nutrients.

Thresholds for what constitutes "high" content would be based on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN).