Outlook Business Desk
The Supreme Court has directed the Central government to implement stricter food labelling regulations within three months, mandating clear display of nutritional information on packaged food items.
A public interest litigation (PIL) filed by two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) seeks mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on food products. The objective is to combat the increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases in India attributed to the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Justice J.B. Pardiwala stated, “Children are more interested in what’s inside a Kurkure pack than reading its label." His observation underscored the greater challenge of transforming eating habits, rather than solely focusing on enhanced labelling.
The Supreme Court directed the Union Government to establish an expert committee to examine existing food labelling regulations and propose amendments aimed at enabling consumers to make more informed choices.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) labeling regulations, based on the 2020 standards, are currently under challenge. Activists argue that these rules fail to provide clear warnings about unhealthy ingredients in packaged foods.
If the regulations are revised, food companies may be required to display red warning labels on packaging for products high in salt, sugar, or fat. This could significantly impact branding and packaging strategies across the industry.
The government has received over 14,000 comments on this matter. An expert panel will review these suggestions before finalizing any changes to the regulations.