Supreme Court asks FSSAI to consider warning labels for packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat
The Supreme Court has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider imposing mandatory pre-package warning labels (FOPL) on packaged food products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. The court observed that such regulatory measures were necessary to protect citizens’ rights to health.
A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan directed the food regulator to place on record its reply within four weeks examining the proposal to introduce labeling norms mandating pre-package warnings on packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat (substances commonly associated with lifestyle disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders).
“….we want the authorities to take this into consideration. The recommendation is that the wrapper/package of any prepackaged food product should have a warning in the form of labeling on the front of the pack. FOPL is something that is common internationally. The authority should come back to us within four weeks,” the Bench noted in its judgment dated February 10, 2025.
The top court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by 3S and Our Health Society, a non-profit organisation, seeking directions to make FOPL mandatory for food products containing high levels of sugar, salt or unhealthy fats. The court was informed that such disclosures would enable consumers to make informed purchasing choices and help address the alarming increase in deaths due to diabetes and heart disease.
Earlier, in April 2025, the Board had disposed of the petition by directing an expert committee constituted under FSSAI to submit its recommendations within three months on amendments required to the Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations (2020) to introduce the pre-packaging labeling regime.
As the three-month period expired on July 9, 2025, the committee moved the apex court seeking an extension, stating that it had held consultations across India and needed additional time to complete the implementation. The Board accepted the request and gave three more months to submit its recommendations.
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‘Important issue’
Having reviewed the compliance statement submitted by the regulator on 10 February 2025, the Board expressed its dissatisfaction with the progress made. The Board observed that although the petition raised an issue of great public importance, the implementation carried out so far had not yielded any “positive or good results”.
“Prima facie, we are of the view that whatever action taken so far has not yielded positive or good results. The PIL has been filed for a specific purpose. It has raised an important issue regarding the right to health of the citizens of this country,” the Bench said.
In its statement, FSSAI stated that all stakeholders should be consulted before taking a final decision. The court was also informed that, in line with the recommendations of the expert committee, the authority would undertake further investigations, including mapping representative samples of packaged foods into both solid and liquid categories. It will also conduct consumer surveys to assess how label information is used, review global trends in front-of-pack nutrition labeling, and conduct extensive consultations with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as major industry associations.
In 2022, FSSAI has proposed changes to introduce the Indian Nutrition Rating (INR) system for pre-labelling of packaging. This required that packaged foods be rated from 0.5 to 5 stars; a higher rating indicated a healthier product.
However, the petitioner argued that the INR model is not globally accepted and does not clearly reveal whether a product contains excessive levels of sugar, salt or saturated fat. Accordingly, the court had called on authorities to mandate warning labels on the front of the package that clearly indicate high levels of such ingredients, in order to enable consumers to make informed dietary choices.
The center defended the INR model in a statement, claiming that it adopts a composite scoring framework that takes into account both “critical nutrients” such as added sugars, sodium and saturated fats, and “positive components” including fiber, protein and some legumes and nuts.
“This balanced approach helps consumers understand the overall health of a product rather than focusing solely on its negative aspects,” the affidavit said.
It was published – 15 February 2026 20:11 IST
