Supreme Court Questions Food Warning Labels

The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding its proposed two-phase approach for front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods, seeking clarity on the quantitative and scientific basis for classifying products as high in sugar, salt, or fat. A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran pressed the FSSAI on how it would determine when a product warrants a warning label, emphasizing the need for clear, quantitative limits and the regulatory basis for such thresholds. The court expressed concern for public health, particularly for children, stating the matter was of national interest and that all parties should cooperate. The court indicated it would issue a written order after its own research and asked stakeholders to study it carefully before the next hearing on September 28. The FSSAI's proposed framework, outlined in an affidavit, suggests a red hexagonal warning label for products high in at least two of three specified nutrients: added sugar, salt, and saturated fat. A second phase would cover products exceeding limits in only one of these nutrients.