The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed banning sucrose and fructose in food products for infants up to six months old, strengthening safeguards against added sugars in early infancy.
The draft amendment, proposed for the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, was published in the Gazette of India on October 16.
The proposed amendment states that “sucrose and fructose shall not be added in the products intended for infants up to the age of 6 months”.
Under existing regulations, lactose and glucose polymers are the preferred carbohydrate sources in infant nutrition products. At the same time, sucrose and fructose may be added as a carbohydrate source when required,
subject to prescribed limits. They are permitted up to a combined limit of 20% of total carbohydrates when required.
FSSAI said the restriction seeks to ensure that infant nutrition products meet the nutritional needs of this age group “without unnecessary addition of sucrose and fructose”.
“The first six months of life represent a critical period for healthy growth and development, making appropriate nutrition particularly important,” the authority said in its press release.
It added that the measure aims to address concerns associated with early exposure to added sugars, including “dietary risk factors linked to childhood obesity and related health challenges”.
Dr Arun Gupta, paediatrician, child safety activist, and convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), welcomed the proposal but called for stronger enforcement and broader restrictions.
“FSSAI’s draft amendment to prohibit added sucrose and fructose in infant nutrition products up to six months is a scientifically sound and welcome move. To truly protect early childhood nutrition, FSSAI must proactively enforce this new restriction at the licensing stage. Furthermore, given the rising concerns around early childhood obesity, the authority should urgently consider extending this ban on added sucrose and fructose to infant nutrition products intended for children above six months as well,” he said.
Food safety activists have raised concerns about rising obesity rates, particularly among children. According to The Lancet, India had 180 million overweight or obese adults in 2021, a figure projected to reach 450 million by 2050.
The proposal complements public health recommendations promoting exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.
The draft notification is open for public consultation. Stakeholders can submit objections and suggestions within 60 days from the date copies of the Official Gazette containing the notification are made available to the public. FSSAI said it would consider the representations before finalising the amendment.
The proposed restriction is not yet a final regulation.