FSSAI has suggested a tabular declaration of the recommended daily requirement of added sugar, saturated fats and salt. Citing industry’s opposition to warning labels on food packets, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suggested a tabular declaration of the recommended daily requirement of added sugar, saturated fats and salt.The FSSAI’s affidavit filed in the Supreme Court only mentions the food industry’s opposition but has ignored the evidence in favour of warning label to help discourage consumption of foods high in added saturated fats, sugar and salt submitted by civil society representatives.FSSAI’s ‘compliance’ affidavit in response to the Supreme Court order directing it to frame Front of Pack labelling regulation states that a “majority of industry organizations were against the inclusion of ‘warning labels’ on the product,” and goes on to suggest a nutrition table giving “the daily allowance for added sugar, added saturated fat and salt vis a vis their presence in per serve of packed food product” on the front of the pack.“The proposed numerical table format being suggested by FSSAI would force consumers to do math at the supermarket shelf. The FSSAI has called it a ‘compliance’ affidavit but in reality, it is defiance. The Supreme Court had explicitly said that the exercise so far had not yielded any positive or good result and it had given FSSAI four weeks to revert. And six months later, FSSAI has filed an affidavit that abandons warning labels altogether and avoids defining HFSS (high fat, salt and sugar) foods.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines Clearly, FSSAI has bowed to food industry’s interests,” said Dr Arun Gupta of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi).FSSAI stated in the affidavit that it had held a stakeholder consultation on March 19, 2026 involving consumer groups, food industry representatives and farmer organisations. It stated that industry bodies argued that “consumers should be able to make an informed decision without creating fear amongst the consumers”. The affidavit was silent on the input given by consumer organisations, which had sought warning labels that have been shown to be the most effective in reducing consumption of junk food high in salt, sugar and saturated fats in several countries. NAPi had also given FSSAI evidence generated from studies conducted in India and other countries showing how effective warning labels are.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThreat Letter Targets Kashmiri Pandits In Kashmir, Employees Asked To Stay Alert Amid Security FearChilling Crash Video: Atiq Ahmed’s Son’s Creta Flips After Losing Control On Highway | WatchUdhayanidhi Backs CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Delimitation Stand, Demands No Cut In State’s LS SeatsFCRA Bill Sent To 31-Member JPC Amid Opposition Protests, Akhilesh-Rijiju Clash Over MinoritiesRijiju slams opposition over parliament chaos, says ‘running away from debate’Explained: Why Amritpal Singh’s Party Fielded Son of Indira Gandhi’s Assassin In Punjab Elections?Prashant Kishor Promises Jobs For 10,000 Bankipur Youths After Ending BJP’s 30-Year Hold | WatchIndia’s Map Move Rattles China: What Naming 27 Places In Arunachal Means?Air India Phuket-Delhi Pilot’s Confirmatory Dope Test Reportedly Positive For Marijuana, Sources SayTamil Nadu Assembly Passes Anti-NEET Resolution As DMK, AIADMK And PMK Back Abolition Demand123Photostories6 foods soldiers ate during World War IIHuskies to Bulldogs: Why some of India’s most ‘trendy’ dog breeds struggle to cope with the summer heat10 most hated foods in the world and why people can’t stand themFrom peacocks to mandalas: 10 best mehendi designs for Hariyali Teej 2026Aluminium foil can clean chimney filters effectively: 3 simple tips to follow7 protein and fiber-rich Oats & Egg combinations for a complete breakfastBirds that eat snakes: Nature’s unlikely serpent huntersKyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: From Smriti Irani to Amar Upadhyay, here’s how much the cast earns per episodeBeyond Payasam: Traditional South Indian sweets that deserve a tryPreity Zinta goes full royalcore in an Rs 42,500 fuchsia farshi salwar set for ‘Batwara 1947’ promotions123Hot PicksKaroline LeavittMHT-CET CAP round seat allotmentSlovenia Indian embassyJharkhand protestN ChandrasekaranNEET PG 2026 city slipIran warSBI Clerk RecruitmentUP scholarshipTop TrendingChhattisgarh NH-30 AccidentKarnataka Closed TodayMallikarjun KhargeBengaluru Mother AccidentGermany Haryana Youth MurderGujarat SuicideSouth Delhi MurderAbhijeet DipkeWeather TomorrowShakeel Noorani
Citing industry’s opposition to warning labels on food packets, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suggested a tabular declaration of the recommended daily requirement of added sugar, saturated fats and salt.The FSSAI’s affidavit filed in the Supreme Court only mentions the food industry’s opposition but has ignored the evidence in favour of warning label to help discourage consumption of foods high in added saturated fats, sugar and salt submitted by civil society representatives.FSSAI’s ‘compliance’ affidavit in response to the Supreme Court order directing it to frame Front of Pack labelling regulation states that a “majority of industry organizations were against the inclusion of ‘warning labels’ on the product,” and goes on to suggest a nutrition table giving “the daily allowance for added sugar, added saturated fat and salt vis a vis their presence in per serve of packed food product” on the front of the pack.“The proposed numerical table format being suggested by FSSAI would force consumers to do math at the supermarket shelf. The FSSAI has called it a ‘compliance’ affidavit but in reality, it is defiance. The Supreme Court had explicitly said that the exercise so far had not yielded any positive or good result and it had given FSSAI four weeks to revert. And six months later, FSSAI has filed an affidavit that abandons warning labels altogether and avoids defining HFSS (high fat, salt and sugar) foods.
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Clearly, FSSAI has bowed to food industry’s interests,” said Dr Arun Gupta of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi).FSSAI stated in the affidavit that it had held a stakeholder consultation on March 19, 2026 involving consumer groups, food industry representatives and farmer organisations. It stated that industry bodies argued that “consumers should be able to make an informed decision without creating fear amongst the consumers”. The affidavit was silent on the input given by consumer organisations, which had sought warning labels that have been shown to be the most effective in reducing consumption of junk food high in salt, sugar and saturated fats in several countries. NAPi had also given FSSAI evidence generated from studies conducted in India and other countries showing how effective warning labels are.
