FSSAI’s proposed warning labels could let unhealthy foods escape scrutiny, says expert
Nutrition advocate Arun Gupta has criticized the FSSAI's proposed warning labels for unhealthy packaged foods, citing a loophole that requires two or more nutrients to be high before a warning is triggered. He argues that the regulation should be simplified to flag high levels of sugar, salt, or fat individually to better protect public health.
Why it matters
Effective food labeling is critical for public health policy in India to combat rising rates of lifestyle-related diseases linked to processed food consumption.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed red hexagonal warning labels on packaged foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat, but critical gaps in the framework could leave several unhealthy products without a warning, nutrition advocate Arun Gupta said.
While the proposal marks a step forward after sustained intervention by the Supreme Court, its “two or more” nutrients threshold is a major loophole, Dr. Gupta, convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPI), told The Hindu .
The Supreme Court recently pushed the Centre and FSSAI to act swiftly on front-of-pack warning labels for unhealthy packaged foods. The FSSAI has now proposed red, hexagonal labels flagging products high in sugar, salt or fat to help consumers make informed choices.
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