Supreme Court warns government over delayed food warning labels

The Supreme Court on Thursday sharply criticized the Central government and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for delaying the implementation of front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat. The bench warned that it would issue further directions if the government failed to act promptly, granting it two weeks to present a final decision.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran questioned the reluctance to adopt stronger nutritional warnings despite the court's earlier directions. The court asked Additional Solicitor General Brijender Chahar, representing the Union, whether the government was succumbing to pressure from corporate houses. "Are you taking the court for a toss? There is immense pressure at the end of all these corporate houses on you. And you are succumbing to that pressure," the bench remarked, emphasizing that the matter concerned public health, not commercial interests.

The government argued that strict warning labels could unfairly affect traditional Indian foods, such as namkeen, due to their fat or salt content, and that international nutritional standards might not be directly...