SC Questions Delay in Warning Labels for Packaged Foods

The Supreme Court has sharply questioned the FSSAI over the delay in introducing warning labels for packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat, stressing that consumers—particularly children—should have clear nutritional information before making purchasing decisions. The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan was hearing a plea seeking front-of-pack warning labels to help consumers quickly identify nutritional risks.

The Court questioned whether pressure from food manufacturers was influencing the regulator's approach and asked what action had been taken so far. It also made clear that the issue was not about targeting any particular food product or manufacturer, but about ensuring adequate information for consumers.

The Centre and FSSAI have been given two weeks to place their final decision before the Supreme Court. The matter relates to a PIL concerning front-of-pack labelling for products containing high levels of sugar, salt and fat.

FSSAI's expert committee had earlier examined the Indian Nutrition Rating system and received more than 14,000 comments from stakeholders. The regulator had indicated that there was no consensus on the proposed labelling framework and that further research and consultations were being considered.

The Centre and FSSAI argued that mandatory warning labels could create difficulties because several traditional Indian foods naturally contain relatively high amounts of salt or fat. The Court, however, questioned why manufacturers' commercial interests should influence whether consumers receive such information, noting that consumers would ultimately retain the choice of whether to purchase a product carrying a warning.

For the food and dairy industry, the development could have important implications for packaging, product formulation, nutritional communication and consumer transparency if a front-of-pack warning framework is ultimately introduced. The next key development will be the final decision to be presented by the Centre and FSSAI within two weeks.

Source: Dairynews7x7 14 Aug, 2026 Read full story here

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