Consumers may soon find it easier to identify packaged foods containing excessive amounts of sugar, salt and fat, with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposing prominent red warning labels on the front of food packets.
The proposed move is aimed at simplifying nutritional information and helping consumers make informed choices without having to study detailed nutritional tables printed on the back of packages.
Red Hexagonal Warning Symbol Proposed
Under the proposed framework, packaged food products exceeding prescribed limits for certain nutrients could carry a red hexagonal warning symbol on the front of the package.
The proposed thresholds have been prepared with reference to the dietary guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) in 2024.
The warning system is expected to be introduced in phases. During the initial phase, products may be required to display the warning when two or more specified nutrients cross the prescribed limits. In a subsequent phase, exceeding the limit for even a single nutrient could trigger the warning.
The phased approach is also expected to give food manufacturers time to modify their formulations and comply with the proposed requirements.
Dr Satyabrata Mahapatra, Health Officer, welcomed the proposal and said the symbol could make nutritional information easier for ordinary consumers to understand.
According to him, consumers would be able to recognise whether a product contains high levels of sugar, salt or fat simply by looking at the warning symbol, rather than going through the entire nutritional information panel.
Proposal Aims To Help Consumers Make Quick Choices
The proposed front-of-pack warning system is intended to make important health-related information more visible at the point of purchase.
Packaged food products often contain nutritional information in detailed tables, which may not always be easy for consumers to interpret quickly. A prominent warning symbol could therefore help shoppers compare products and identify those containing higher levels of specified nutrients.
The proposal is particularly significant as packaged and processed foods have become increasingly common in household diets.
Focus On Children’s Junk Food Consumption
The proposal has also brought renewed attention to the consumption of highly processed and junk food among children.
Health concerns associated with excessive consumption of foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats include increased risks of obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle-related health problems.
Attractive packaging, strong flavours and aggressive marketing can influence children’s food preferences, while convenience can make packaged products an easy option for busy families.
Consumer Saswat Ray said companies should clearly communicate potential health concerns associated with excessive consumption of junk food. He also called for stronger monitoring by food safety authorities and appropriate action against businesses that fail to comply with regulations.
He further emphasised the need to educate children about the consequences of regularly consuming unhealthy food.
Certain Basic Food Products Excluded
The proposed warning framework is not expected to apply to certain single-ingredient food products.
Items including ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery and honey have been excluded from the proposed framework.
The distinction is intended to ensure that the proposed front-of-pack warning system focuses on applicable packaged food products rather than individual basic ingredients.
Supreme Court Intervention
The development comes after a public interest litigation filed by 3S and Our Health Society seeking clearer health warnings on packaged food products.
On August 13, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to take steps in the matter. Following the court’s intervention, FSSAI submitted a compliance affidavit outlining steps being considered to strengthen consumer awareness regarding the nutritional content of packaged foods.
The proposed red warning label could therefore become an important part of India’s broader efforts to improve food labelling and encourage healthier dietary choices.
If implemented, the system would give consumers a simple visual indicator while also placing greater responsibility on food manufacturers to ensure that nutritional information is clearly communicated.
