FSSAI Proposes Red Hexagon Warning Labels on Packaged Foods

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed the Supreme Court that it is proposing a new front-of-pack labelling system for packaged foods. The plan involves a red hexagonal warning on products that contain high levels of added saturated fat, added sugar, or salt.

The proposed label would appear on the front of the package and carry declarations such as "High Fat," "High Sugar," "High Salt," or "Highly Sweetened Beverage." The move is intended to help consumers, especially children and other vulnerable groups, make informed food choices at a glance.

According to FSSAI's affidavit, the warning would apply when a product is high in at least two of the specified nutrients, based on thresholds in the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by ICMR-NIN. The label text would be printed in a font size one point larger than that used in the nutrition information table on the back of the pack.

The authority has proposed a phased rollout. The first phase would cover products high in at least two of the three nutrients, along with specified sweetened beverages. The second phase would extend the warning to products high in any one of these nutrients.

Certain products would be exempt, including single-ingredient foods and items naturally high in fat, sugar, or salt, such as ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery, and honey. These would still need to meet other food safety and labelling rules.

The submission follows a Supreme Court order from August 13 in a case filed by the public charitable trust '3S and Our Health Society', which sought mandatory front-of-package warning labels. During the hearing, the court criticised FSSAI over the delay in introducing such labels.

FSSAI clarified that the proposal is not yet final. The system would be implemented only after going through the prescribed regulatory process, including an amendment to the relevant regulations.