India signals stricter red warning labels in setback for Big Food

India’s government proposed on Thursday the introduction of stricter red warning labels on food packaging, potentially impacting the $100 billion food and drinks industry. The suggestion was made in response to questions from the country's Supreme Court, where judges have been scrutinizing the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for its delayed implementation of stricter labeling.

The FSSAI had previously suggested a two-phased labeling program, starting with red-colored hexagonal labels on items that exceeded limits in at least two of three categories — added sugar, salt, or saturated fat. However, health experts criticized the proposal, arguing it was an "industry-friendly loophole" that did not adequately address public health concerns.

During the hearing, FSSAI's lawyer stated that the regulator could now enforce the stricter labeling "in one go," meaning products high in any one of the three nutrients would be labeled with a red hexagon. This development comes as India intensifies its enforcement efforts against poor food safety practices, with surprise raids uncovering hygiene issues in eateries.

The nation's food industry, which includes multinational corporations like Nestle, Unilever, Mondelez, and Mars, as well as numerous smaller businesses, has called for a review of the proposed labeling thresholds. The Supreme Court has emphasized the need to protect public health, with judges expressing concern over projected obesity rates and urging FSSAI to adhere to the 100 grams benchmark for labeling.