In a major development on the Food sector, the Honourable Supreme Court of India has pushed the food regulator (FSSAI) start putting clear warning labels on the front of food packets.
It has also insisted that these issues should not be delayed any further as it has been dragging on since 2014.
As per the report, Health activists want a Warning Label system on the front (like what we have in Cigarette packs). The FSSAI had suggested an "Indian Nutrition Rating" (Star Rating)—similar to how fridges or ACs are rated. But critics say star ratings are confusing and hide the bad stuff - for e.g., they highlight all the good stuffs in the product while hiding the harmful ingredients that it may contain. It has also told the Regulator to prioritize Health over Profits by Corporates. It wants "Front-of-Package Nutrition Labelling (FoPNL)" to meet global standards.
The FSSAI has been given four weeks time to revert with a plan of action.
Our view:
In our February Monthly News Summary, we had highlighted how the Government has put Regulators on the forefront for the year 2026, in helping India move forward on the Global business front. The recent India-EU and India-US trade deals will involve massive investments into India on virtually every sector. The active participation of the Regulators (in ensuring compliance in say, Food standards) is now, even more necessary, to ensure smooth functioning of trades.
An important issue, dragging on for more than 11 years, is something that needs to be looked at seriously, and resolved urgently.
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Link - https://www.barandbench.com/news/supreme-court-asks-fssai-to-consider-front-of-pack-warning-labels-on-foods-high-in-sugar-salt-and-fat
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