2 weeks ago
FSSAI trains food businesses on labelling rules amid court scrutiny
There is a special office in India called FSSAI that helps keep the food we buy safe.
It recently held a big class for companies that make and sell packaged food.
In the class, companies learned the rules for food labels, advertising and the claims they make about their products.
Many people want packages to clearly show when food has too much sugar, salt or fat.
The Supreme Court of India is asking why these clear warnings are not on the front of packages yet.
The court says that children's health is very important and cannot be put off.
Some people worried that strong warnings might hurt companies' sales.
The court said the final choice belongs to shoppers and that health matters more than business profits.
The government said matching international standards was difficult, but the court disagreed.
So FSSAI is helping companies follow labelling rules while the court watches closely.
FSSAI conducted a training session for food business operators on regulations covering food labelling, display, advertising and claims.
The session, named 'Understanding Labelling & Display and Advertising & Claims Regulations', drew participation from a large number of food businesses.
The training comes amid scrutiny over stronger nutritional information and warning labels for packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat.
The Supreme Court of India questioned the Centre and FSSAI over delays in implementing front-of-pack warning labels, saying children's public health cannot be compromised.
The court rejected the government's argument that aligning with international packaging and nutritional warning standards posed practical challenges, saying India cannot use foreign standards to delay stronger safeguards.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Supreme Court of India, and food business operators
- What
- FSSAI trained food businesses on labelling and advertising regulations while the Supreme Court pressed for faster implementation of front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- When
- Friday for the training session; recently for the court hearings
- Why
- To improve compliance with labelling rules and strengthen public health safeguards around packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat
Public health advocates
Industry and government concerns
Front-of-pack warning labels
Public health advocates
The Supreme Court says clear warnings on the front of food packages are needed so consumers can make informed choices and that public health, especially of children, cannot be compromised.
Industry and government concerns
The government argued that aligning with international standards on packaging and nutritional warnings posed practical challenges.
Commercial interests vs public health
Public health advocates
The court observed that commercial interests cannot override public health considerations and that the final decision on whether to purchase a product rests with consumers.
Industry and government concerns
Concerns were raised that stronger warning labels could affect manufacturers' businesses.
Key facts
- Regulatory body
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Training session
- 'Understanding Labelling & Display and Advertising & Claims Regulations'
- Participants
- Food business operators (FBOs)
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Justices
- J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran
- Focus of warnings
- Sugar, salt and saturated fat in packaged foods
- Announcement platform
- X (social media)
Sources
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