FSSAI to introduce red warning labels on chips, sugary drinks and packaged foods

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is set to introduce red warning labels on high-fat, high-salt, and highly sweetened packaged foods. This decision comes after a prolonged debate between the regulator and food safety experts who proposed various warning label systems, with activists advocating for a clear and immediate warning system.

The FSSAI initially considered a star-rating system like those used for electrical appliances, but experts and activists argued that even the most unhealthy snacks would receive a half-star rating, which could be misleading. Instead, FSSAI has chosen to implement a red, hexagonal warning label in two phases. In Phase I, products will carry the warning if they are high in two of the three harmful ingredients: fats, sugars, or salts.

Sweetened beverages, which are primarily high in sugars, will have a separate warning. Phase II will extend the warning to products high in just one of the three ingredients. The warning label will be displayed in English, with a font size one point larger than the nutritional information table on the back of the pack. Single-ingredient foods, such as milk, and products inherently rich in fat, sugar, or salt, like ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery, and honey, will be exempt.

Experts welcome the move to implement warning labels but have concerns about the conditions set by FSSAI, such as the two-out-of-three nutrient threshold in Phase I and the lack of a timeline for Phase II implementation. They also question the regulation of "added" sugars and fats, as natural sugars can also be detrimental to health.

Despite these concerns, evidence from countries that have implemented front-of-pack labels suggests a positive impact on consumer behavior, such as a 24% drop in sugary drink consumption in Chile.