India’s government has told the Supreme Court that it is open to tougher red warnings on packaged food.
The move could significantly affect the country’s huge food and beverage industry. It also follows growing pressure from health experts for clearer warnings about unhealthy ingredients.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had proposed a two-stage labelling system last month.
Under the initial plan, food products would receive red hexagonal warnings if they exceeded limits for at least two of three nutrients: added sugar, salt or saturated fat.
However, the government has now indicated that it could introduce the stricter requirements at once.
Supreme Court Questions Two-Phase Plan
The Supreme Court questioned why the FSSAI needed two separate phases.
Justice J.B. Pardiwala challenged the government’s approach during Thursday’s hearing. He questioned whether products should need to exceed limits for both sugar and salt before receiving a warning.
In response, Additional Solicitor General Brijender Chahar said the government could potentially introduce both phases together.
That change would mean products exceeding the limit for even one of the three nutrients could receive a red warning.
Health Groups Demand Stronger Labels
Health activists have criticised the original FSSAI proposal.
They argue that requiring products to exceed limits in two categories could allow many unhealthy foods to avoid warning labels.
The health group 3S And Our Health has asked the Supreme Court to push for stronger front-of-pack warnings.
The case has added to a wider debate over how India should tackle unhealthy diets and rising rates of obesity.
Food Industry Raises Concerns
Food companies have also opposed some aspects of the proposed system.
The All India Food Processors’ Association, which represents major Indian and international food companies, has called for a review of the planned warnings.
The industry argues that the proposed system could place warning labels on many traditional Indian foods.
During the hearing, the industry’s lawyer used a packet of pickle to make his argument.
He questioned whether a product should receive a warning based on its nutritional content per 100 grams when consumers typically eat much smaller portions.
Industry Wants Per-Serving Labels
The food industry supports a per-serving approach rather than the proposed 100-gram benchmark.
Supporters of that system argue that serving size provides consumers with a more realistic picture of how much sugar, salt or fat they actually consume.
The United States has proposed a similar per-serving approach for front-of-pack information.
However, several other countries use a 100-gram standard when assessing nutritional content.
India Faces Growing Obesity Concerns
The debate comes as health experts raise concerns about unhealthy diets across India.
Growing consumption of highly processed and fatty foods has increased pressure on authorities to improve nutritional information.
A recent study published in The Lancet estimated that around 450 million Indians could be overweight or obese by 2050.
Children are also a major concern for policymakers.
The Supreme Court said it was taking the issue seriously because of its potential impact on public health, particularly among young people.
Food Safety Rules Face Wider Scrutiny
The food labelling dispute comes as Indian authorities have increased enforcement of food safety regulations.
Federal and state regulators have conducted surprise inspections of restaurants and food businesses.
Some inspections have uncovered poor hygiene conditions and resulted in closures.
As a result, food safety has become an increasingly important public issue across the country.
Court Expected to Issue Written Order
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a written order on the matter before Friday.
The ruling could influence how India regulates nutrition warnings on packaged food.
If the government adopts stricter rules, manufacturers may need to change packaging across a wide range of products.
For consumers, stronger India food warnings could make it easier to identify products containing high levels of sugar, salt or saturated fat.
The final decision will determine how quickly those changes reach supermarket shelves across the country.
