Madras High Court refuses to review its order on micro/nano plastics warning labels on bottled water, sugar, and salt
The Madras High Court has dismissed a review petition by the FSSAI regarding a mandate to place warning labels on plastic-packaged water, sugar, and salt. The court maintains that the labels are necessary for consumer awareness, despite FSSAI's concerns about potential public panic and inconclusive scientific evidence.
Why it matters
This ruling sets a legal precedent for consumer rights and transparency regarding potential health risks associated with microplastics in food packaging.
The Madras High Court on Monday (September 28, 2026) dismissed a petition filed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) urging the court to review its order mandating drinking water, sugar, and salt sold in plastic bottles and packets to contain a warning in bold and red letters that read: “This water/sugar/salt may contain micro/nano plastics.”
A special Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy dismissed the review application after observing that the court had not concluded that the water, sugar or salt becomes unsafe because of the plastic packaging but had only ordered issuance of a warning on the labels so that the consumers could take an informed decision before consumption.
In its review application, FSSAI had contended that research on the subject remained inconclusive, and hence, it may not be appropriate to cause “public panic” by displaying such warnings.
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