Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Packaged food products containing excessive levels of salt, sugar, or saturated fat may soon carry a prominent red hexagonal warning label on the front of their packaging, under a proposal submitted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to the Supreme Court.
The proposed measure aims to help consumers make informed dietary choices and raise awareness about foods that may pose health risks when consumed regularly.
According to the proposal, the warning label will be displayed in a red hexagonal (six-sided) shape on the front of the package. The label will also carry a warning message indicating that the product contains high levels of salt, sugar, or saturated fat.
The proposal comes in response to a petition filed by public charitable trust 3S and Our Health Society, which sought mandatory warning labels on packaged and processed food products.
During the previous hearing on August 13, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran criticized the delay in framing the regulations and questioned whether the government was committed to protecting public health. Following the court's observations, FSSAI submitted its affidavit outlining the proposed framework.
Two-Phase Implementation Plan
FSSAI has proposed implementing the labeling system in phases to give the food industry time to reformulate products and comply with the new standards.
Phase 1:
Products containing two or more nutrients—salt, sugar, or saturated fat—above prescribed limits will be required to display the red warning label. Highly sweetened soft drinks will also be covered under this phase.
Phase 2:
The requirement will be expanded to products that exceed the prescribed limit in even one of these nutrients.
Aim to Improve Public Health Awareness
The proposed front-of-pack labeling system is intended to make nutritional risks more visible to consumers at the point of purchase and encourage healthier food choices, while also pushing manufacturers to reduce excessive levels of salt, sugar, and fat in their products.
