FSSAI Proposes Red Front-Pack Warnings For Foods High In Fat, Sugar And Salt

New Delhi, August 28, 2026 - The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put forth a plan for bold red labels on packaged foods rich in fat, sugar, or salt, as ordered by the Supreme Court to tackle unhealthy food items. These warnings, like HIGH FAT, HIGH SUGAR, and HIGH SALT, would be displayed in red hexagonal shapes on the front of food packaging, making it simple for shoppers to spot products with high levels of certain nutrients.

FSSAI detailed this proposal in a document submitted to the Supreme Court, which had requested the food regulator to implement such labels due to concerns about excessive consumption of these nutrients leading to health issues such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and certain cancers.

Under the proposal, FSSAI aims to provide on the Front-of-Pack (FoP) clear and noticeable warnings about foods high in specific nutrients of concern. Products containing any two or more of these high nutrients, such as saturated fat, added sugar, and salt, would feature the warning in a red hexagonal box. The label would state the relevant declaration, like HIGH FAT, HIGH SUGAR, HIGH SALT, or HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE, to help consumers easily recognize products with high levels of these nutrients.

FSSAI also suggested that these warnings should be displayed in a larger font than the nutrition information table on the back of the packaging. However, some single-ingredient foods and foods naturally high in fat, sugar, or salt, like ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery, and honey, could be exempted from this labeling, provided they comply with other food safety and labelling regulations.

The regulator suggested implementing the labeling system in stages to ensure consumer acceptance and give the industry sufficient time for reformulation. In the first phase, the warning would apply to products high in two or more of the specified nutrients, including added fat, added sugar, and salt, as well as certain sweetened beverages.

The second phase would broaden the warning requirement to include products high in any one of these nutrients. The thresholds for classifying products would be based on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition.