Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Seeks Clarity on Front-of-Pack Food Labels
India’s Supreme Court is reviewing a plan for warning labels on some packaged foods.
The labels would warn people when foods contain high amounts of added saturated fat, sugar or salt.
FSSAI wants to introduce the labels in two stages.
The first stage would cover foods high in at least two of these nutrients and certain sweetened drinks.
The second stage would include foods high in any one of them.
The court wants clear dates and scientific reasons for moving between the stages.
It also said pictures alongside words may help people with different reading abilities understand the warnings.
The government must explain how schools will teach children to understand food labels and nutrition.
The Supreme Court asked FSSAI to clarify proposed red front-of-pack warnings for foods high in added saturated fat, sugar and salt.
FSSAI’s two-phase plan would initially cover products high in at least two nutrients and specified sweetened beverages, before expanding to products high in any one nutrient.
The court sought a scientifically justified timeline separating the two implementation phases.
It also requested details on beverage criteria, nutrient thresholds, font size, pictorial symbols and label placement.
The Centre must explain how schools will teach nutritional literacy, with FSSAI directed to file clarifications within 10 days before the September 28 hearing.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, FSSAI, the Union government and the public charitable trust 3S and Our Health Society are involved.
- What
- The court sought clarifications on proposed phased front-of-pack warning labels for foods high in fat, sugar and salt, and asked about nutritional education in schools.
- When
- The directions were issued on September 11, and the matter is scheduled for hearing on September 28; FSSAI was given 10 days to respond.
- Where
- The proceedings took place before the Supreme Court in New Delhi.
- Why
- The court wants the warning system to have a clear implementation timeline and to remain accessible to India’s diverse population.
Supreme Court’s Concerns
FSSAI’s Proposed Approach
Implementation timeline
Supreme Court’s Concerns
The court said consumer acceptability and industry reformulation time alone cannot justify uncertainty, and requested a reasonable, scientifically justified transition timeline.
FSSAI’s Proposed Approach
FSSAI proposed a phased rollout to support consumer acceptability and give industry time to reformulate products.
Label design
Supreme Court’s Concerns
The court questioned a strictly word-based warning system, saying it may assume similar literacy and comprehension across regions, languages and age groups; it suggested combining words with pictures.
FSSAI’s Proposed Approach
FSSAI’s proposal, as described in the proceedings, uses words to identify products high in fat, sugar and/or salt.
Coverage criteria
Supreme Court’s Concerns
The court requested precise definitions for covered sweetened beverages and the nutrient thresholds that would apply to them.
FSSAI’s Proposed Approach
FSSAI’s plan distinguishes between products high in two or more nutrients in Phase I and products high in any one nutrient in Phase II.
- Regulator
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Nutrients covered
- Added saturated fat, added sugar and salt
- Proposed design
- Prominent red front-of-package warning labels
- Phase I
- Products high in at least two specified nutrients, plus specified sweetened beverages
- Phase II
- Products high in any one specified nutrient
- Clarifications sought
- Timeline, beverage criteria, nutrient thresholds, font size, pictorial representations and label placement
- Next hearing
- September 28
