The move follows years of debate between the regulator and public health experts over how best to warn consumers about unhealthy food products. FSSAI had previously proposed a star-rating system in a 2022 draft notification, similar to labels used on electrical appliances, but the approach was criticized by activists who argued that even unhealthy snacks could receive a partial rating that consumers might perceive as a positive endorsement.
According to the affidavit, implementation will occur in two phases:
- Phase I: Products will carry the warning label only if they are high in at least two of three harmful ingredients — fat, sugar and salt. Sweetened beverages, which are typically high in sugar alone, will carry a separate warning specific to sugar content.
- Phase II: The warning requirement will be extended to products high in just one of the three ingredients.
FSSAI said the phased approach is intended "to facilitate consumer acceptability and provide industry adequate time for reformulation."
The warning will appear in English on the front of packaging, in a font size one point larger than that used in the nutritional information table on the back. Single-ingredient products such as milk, along with items inherently high in fat, sugar or salt — including ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery and honey — will be exempt.
While welcoming the regulator's decision in principle, public health experts have criticized the conditions attached to the rollout. Dr. Arun Gupta, convener of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi)-India, said the two-nutrient threshold in Phase I would allow many unhealthy products to avoid the warning if they are high in only one harmful ingredient, and noted that no timeline has been set for Phase II. He also raised concerns about the use of the term "added" sugars and fats, arguing that natural sugar content can also pose health risks, and said the proposed font size is too small and should include Hindi alongside English.
Front-of-pack warning labels have been adopted in 44 countries, with at least 16 making them mandatory. Approaches vary globally: Australia and New Zealand use health star ratings, the UK uses a traffic-light color system, and countries including Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Canada use explicit warning labels. A position paper from Indian public health organizations cited evidence from Latin America showing measurable shifts in consumption patterns following such labeling, including a 24% drop in sugary drink consumption in Chile.
