FSSAI Proposes Red Hexagon Warnings for High-Salt, Sugar, Fat Foods

India’s food safety authority wants some packaged foods to carry a red warning sign.

The sign would be placed on the front of the package.

It would tell shoppers if a product has a lot of added fat, added sugar or salt.

In the first step, a product would usually need to be high in at least two of these nutrients to receive the warning.

Certain sweetened drinks would also be included.

Later, the warning could apply to products high in only one nutrient.

Foods such as salt, sugar, honey and ghee may be left out because they are single-ingredient or naturally high in these nutrients.

Experts support helping people understand food labels but worry that the plan may miss some unhealthy products.

The proposal is not mandatory yet because it still needs to complete the regulatory process.