After years of consultations, court battles and vehement advocacy, India may soon see warning labels on the front of packaged food.
India’s food regulator, FSSAI, has told the Supreme Court it is open to implementing stricter front-of-pack warning labels in a single phase, after the court questioned its proposal to initially warn only products high in two of three nutrients — added sugar, salt and saturated fat.
The proposal came under scrutiny during Thursday’s hearing. The Apex Court is likely to issue a written order tomorrow. Another court hearing is scheduled for the 28th September.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had proposed red-coloured, hexagonal warning labels in two phases.
FSSAI had proposed a warning label when a product exceeded prescribed limits for at least two of the three nutrients. The second phase would bring products high in only one under the warning regime.
The proposal came under scrutiny during Thursday’s hearing.
According to Live Law, Justice J.B. Pardiwala questioned the rationale, asking: “It has to be sugar and salt. Only then will you ask them to put a label?”
Additional Solicitor General Brijender Chahar, appearing for FSSAI, indicated that the two phases were merely a suggestion and FSSAI would follow the court’s direction.
In its rejoinder, petitioner 3S and Our Health Society questioned FSSAI's two-phase proposal and submitted that many unhealthy food products might be passed off as healthy.
The petitioners have argued that sugar, salt and saturated fat can independently pose health risks and that a product dangerously high in even one nutrient should carry a warning.
The food processing industry, however, has raised concerns about the proposed criteria, including whether thresholds should be assessed on a 100-gram basis or according to serving size.