{
  "id": 762397,
  "title": "'Do you not want India to stay healthy?' Top Court grills Centre, FSSAI over food labels",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/do-you-not-want-india-to-stay-healthy-top-court-grills-centre-fssai",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T11:40:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/are-you-taking-the-court-for-a-toss-sc-rebukes-fssai-on-food-warning-labels-101786621254624.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Supreme Court took the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to task on Thursday for being reluctant to introduce front-of-pack warning labels on foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. Justice JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran questioned whether the government truly wants the Indian population, especially children, to remain healthy. The bench emphasized that India should not compromise on public health or accept lower standards just because Indian foods may differ from those in developed countries. They were particularly troubled by minutes from a recent FSSAI meeting suggesting continued hesitation despite the court's previous request to consider the measure.\n\nThe court accused FSSAI of succumbing to pressure from food manufacturers, asking, \"You don’t want people of this country to remain healthy? More particularly growing children?\" The court warned the Centre and FSSAI they have one last chance to provide a final decision. If they fail to do so, the bench said it would take matters into its own hands.\n\nThe court also rejected the government's argument that warning labels would be detrimental to manufacturers. It emphasized that the decision to purchase remains with the consumer. The court stressed that the purpose is to inform people about what they are consuming, not to ban any particular food. It pointed out that traditional Indian foods can have high levels of salt, sugar and fat, and that imposing warnings would simply provide consumers with clear information.",
  "summary": "The bench was particularly concerned by minutes of a recent meeting of the food regulator suggesting continued hesitation over front-of-pack warning labels.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Supreme Court Pulls Up FSSAI Over Warning Labels On Packaged Food, Questions Industry Pressure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/supreme-court-pulls-up-fssai-over-warning-labels-on-packaged-food",
        "published": "2026-08-13T11:38:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "‘Taking us for a toss?’: Top court raps food regulator on warning labels",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/taking-us-for-a-toss-top-court-raps-food-regulator-on-warning-labels",
        "published": "2026-08-13T11:47:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}