Supreme Court seeks detailed clarification from FSSAI on nutrient warning labels
The Supreme Court asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to provide further details on its proposed front-of-package warning labels for fat, sugar and salt.
In New Delhi, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court requested the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to elaborate on its phased front-of-package labeling scheme that flags high levels of fat, sugar and salt. The judges, J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran, asked for specifics on label wording, font size, pictorial elements, placement, and the criteria for sweetened beverages in Phase I. They also sought the Union’s plan to embed nutritional education in school curricula, warning that children are at risk of poor dietary choices.
The court criticized the lack of a clear, scientifically justified timeline for the two-phase rollout and gave the FSSAI ten days to submit a detailed affidavit. A further hearing is slated for September 28.
Why it matters
Clear labeling and nutrition education can influence consumer choices and public health in India.
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