Top court says prominent health warnings on sugar, salt and fat levels are key to informed consumer choices, directs regulator to respond in four weeks
The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to seriously examine the introduction of front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods, citing rising health concerns linked to excessive sugar, saturated fat and salt content.
The observation came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) that seeks mandatory, easy-to-read warnings on the front of packaged food items. The bench noted that there appears to be an initial case that such visible alerts could help protect public health by enabling consumers to make more informed dietary choices.
Judges remarked that while food companies may oppose stricter labelling norms, the regulator’s primary responsibility is to safeguard public health rather than commercial interests. The court also made it clear that inaction could prompt judicial intervention and instructed FSSAI to submit its response within four weeks.
The PIL contends that current nutrition information placed on the back of food packets is not sufficient for consumers, especially at a time when the consumption of processed and packaged foods is steadily increasing.
The court’s remarks come amid growing attention on food labelling standards in India. Additionally, FSSAI has recently taken steps against misleading or weakly supported health and nutrition claims in several packaged food segments. The regulator has issued advisories and intensified inspections across categories such as edible oils, honey, beverages, nutraceutical products and ready-to-eat items.
Supporting these concerns, a study by LabelBlind Solutions found that roughly one in three labelling claims reviewed across packaged food products did not comply with existing rules or lacked proper scientific backing.
The study further pointed to higher levels of non-compliance in common household staples including honey, ghee, edible oils and tea. It also identified shortcomings in newer segments such as plant-based drinks, ready-to-eat meals and packaged snack foods.
The case will be taken up again once FSSAI files its reply with the court.
