Indian food safety watchdog unveils new labeling standards to spotlight fat and sugar levels

INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved new labeling standards requiring food packaging labels in India to prominently display the total salt, sugar, and saturated fat content in bold letters and larger font size.

This move replaces the regulator’s earlier plans to introduce front-of-package labeling for ultra-processed packaged foods, which aimed to provide essential nutrition and quality information upfront.

“The amendment aims to empower consumers to understand better the nutritional value of the products they consume and make healthier decisions,” the FSSAI stated in an official announcement.

The regulator will issue a draft notification on this amendment and seek stakeholder comments.

The decision to revise the Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations, 2020, regarding nutritional information labeling was made during the recent 44th meeting of the food authority.

According to India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this amendment, which is a testament to the FSSAI’s commitment to public health and well-being, will support efforts to address the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

“The prioritization of clear and distinguishable labeling requirements will aid the global effort to combat NCDs,” says the FSSAI.

Additionally, regulations 2 (v) and 5 (3) of the FSS (Labeling and Display) Regulation, 2020, specify requirements for mentioning serving size and nutritional information on food product labels.

The per-serve percentage contribution to Recommended Dietary Allowances for total sugar, total saturated fat, and sodium content must be displayed in bold letters.

The FSSAI’s recent actions also highlight its focus on promoting clarity and transparency.

In March, the food safety watchdog sent advisories to e-commerce websites to remove the term ‘Health Drink’ as it is not defined or standardized under the FSS Act 2006 or its regulations.

This action aimed to promote clarity and transparency regarding the nature and functional properties of products, ensuring that consumers can make informed and confident food choices.

Last month, the FSSAI mandated that all Food Business Operators (FBOs) remove claims of ‘100% fruit juices’ from the labels and advertisements of reconstituted fruit juices.

Other products scrutinized by the FSSAI include using terms like “wheat flour/refined wheat flour,” advertising and marketing Oral Rehydration Salts with a prefix or suffix, and nutrient function claims for multi-source edible vegetable oils.

These advisories and directives aim to reduce misleading claims by FBOs, ensuring that consumers can make informed choices while shopping.

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