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The Supreme Court has reserved its order and indicated that it will fix the timeline for implementation of the FSSAI front-of-pack warning labels.
Under FSSAI’s proposal, even one nutrient crossing the prescribed limit could trigger a red warning on the front of packaged foods. (Representative Image: Pexels)
The Supreme Court has refused to accept the timeline proposed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for introducing front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods, saying the regulator cannot take so long to implement a measure linked to public health.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran on Monday questioned FSSAI over its proposal to first take around four months to frame the regulations and then allow food businesses another 365 days of voluntary compliance. “Why voluntary compliance for a year? Why do you need so much time?” Justice Pardiwala asked. The court also questioned why FSSAI wanted to begin another round of stakeholder consultation when the exercise had already been underway since 2022. The Supreme Court has reserved its order and indicated that it will fix the timeline for implementation.
The intervention could accelerate the introduction of a system that may change the way Indians read packaged-food labels.
Under FSSAI’s latest proposal, packaged food products that cross prescribed limits for added sugar, added fat or salt would have to display a prominent warning on the front of the pack. The thresholds are proposed to be based on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024issued by the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition.
Here are everyday foods could potentially carry these warnings.
1. Potato Chips
Packets of chips, fried snacks and similar products could be among the foods affected if their salt or added-fat content crosses the prescribed threshold.
At A Glance
The Supreme Court refused FSSAI’s proposed timeline for front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods.
FSSAI proposed a four-month period to frame regulations and 365 days for voluntary compliance.
The Supreme Court questioned the need for a year of voluntary compliance and further stakeholder consultation.
FSSAI’s latest proposal requires prominent warnings for packaged foods exceeding limits for added sugar, fat, or salt.
The proposed warning is a red hexagon on a white square, identifying “HIGH FAT,” “HIGH SUGAR,” or “HIGH SALT.”
However, the proposed system is not based simply on whether something is processed. FSSAI has specifically proposed that the warning should depend on nutrient content, rather than the degree of processing.
2. Namkeen, Bhujia, Mixtures
Packaged namkeen, bhujia, sev and mixtures could also potentially attract a warning, particularly where their salt or fat content exceeds the proposed limits.
The important point is that not every product in a particular category would automatically receive a red warning. The nutrient composition of the individual product would determine whether it crosses the regulatory threshold.
3. Biscuits And Cookies
Biscuits and cookies could also come under the proposed framework where their added sugar or fat content exceeds the prescribed limit. The idea behind front-of-pack labelling is to make such information immediately visible instead of requiring consumers to turn the packet around and decipher the nutrition table printed in relatively small text.
4. Cakes And Packaged Bakery Products
Packaged cakes, pastries and other sweet bakery products could potentially qualify if they exceed the proposed added-sugar or added-fat thresholds.
5. Chocolates And Confectionery
Chocolate bars, sweets and other confectionery products could potentially receive a HIGH SUGAR or relevant warning if they breach the final threshold. The proposed system is designed to identify the nutrient of concern rather than use a blanket warning for an entire category of food.
6. Breakfast Cereals
Breakfast cereals marketed as convenient or family-friendly foods could also be affected where their added-sugar or fat content exceeds the prescribed limits. This is significant because front-of-pack labelling is intended to work as an interpretive warning, rather than simply providing another set of numbers for consumers to calculate themselves.
7. Instant Noodles And Convenience Foods
Instant noodles and other ready-to-eat convenience foods could potentially attract a warning if their salt or fat content crosses the relevant threshold.
8. Sweetened Packaged Beverages
Packaged drinks are a major part of the proposed framework. FSSAI has proposed warnings for beverages crossing the prescribed nutrient thresholds and has separately proposed the declaration “HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE” for relevant products.
The regulator has identified several beverage categories, including carbonated and non-carbonated water-based drinks, fruit beverages, fruit drinks, ready-to-serve fruit beverages, syrups, beverage mixes and caffeinated beverages.
9. Flavoured And Sweetened Dairy Drinks
Flavoured milk and other sweetened dairy beverages could potentially be covered if their added sugar crosses the final threshold.
This distinction matters because FSSAI has proposed using added sugar rather than simply looking at total sugar. The regulator has argued that naturally occurring sugars in foods such as milk and fruit need to be distinguished from sugars added during processing.
10. Ready-To-Eat And Frozen Foods
A range of packaged ready-to-eat meals, frozen snacks and other convenience products could also fall under the system if their nutrient levels exceed the prescribed limits. The proposed approach therefore cuts across food categories. What matters is whether a product crosses the threshold for one or more nutrients of concern.
What Will The Red Warning Look Like?
FSSAI has proposed a red hexagon placed on a white square background, prominently positioned on the top-left portion of the front of the package. The warning could identify the relevant nutrient as “HIGH FAT”, “HIGH SUGAR” or “HIGH SALT”. If more than one nutrient crosses the threshold, the applicable warnings would appear together.
The proposed font would be at least one point larger than the font used in the nutrition information table on the back of the pack. The design broadly draws from Canada’s front-of-pack warning system.
FSSAI has also proposed a separate front-of-pack declaration for products containing non-caloric sweeteners: “CONTAIN NON CALORIC SWEETENER.”
The regulator’s latest proposal is different from its earlier two-phase approach. It now wants a single-phase rollout, under which a product crossing the prescribed limit for even one of the specified nutrients could attract the warning.
The issue has been under discussion for several years. The Supreme Court has repeatedly questioned the absence of a clear timeline, warning that without one, implementation could be delayed indefinitely.
Earlier this month, the court said that giving industry time for reformulation or assessing consumer acceptability could not by itself justify uncertainty over when the warnings would actually become mandatory. It also raised questions about whether the labels would be sufficiently visible and understandable across India’s different languages, literacy levels and modes of purchasing.
On Monday, the court went further, questioning the need for another year of voluntary compliance. It also stressed that its eventual directions would have to be implemented by FSSAI in their “true spirit” and without delay. The Supreme Court has reserved its order, and the final regulations, nutrient thresholds and implementation timeline are yet to be settled.
But if the proposed framework goes through, the change will be visible where consumers make their purchase decisions, not buried in the nutrition table at the back, but prominently displayed on the front of the packet.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The Supreme Court rejected FSSAI’s timeline because the regulator planned to take four months to frame regulations and another 365 days for voluntary compliance. The bench stated that FSSAI cannot take so long to implement a measure directly linked to public health.
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Pragati is a News Editor at news18.com. Having headed the Business and Viral sections, Pragati now ideates, writes and edits long-form features and articles on national and global affairs. She ensures…Read More
September 29, 2026, 09:57 IST
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