From The Economic Times · Shambhavi Anand · · 1m 10s
FSSAI warnings could hit 94% of packaged foods
Over 94% of Indian packaged foods may get nutrient warnings under new rules, with FSSAI ex-chief urging phased rollout to avoid dilution.
In brief
Over 94% of Indian packaged foods may get nutrient warnings under new rules, with FSSAI ex-chief urging phased rollout to avoid dilution. 94% of packaged foods in India exceed nutrient thresholds, risking warnings that could overwhelm impact if implemented immediately. Originally reported by The Economic Times.
New food warnings coming
Over 94% of packaged foods in India exceed nutrient thresholds under proposed rules.
“More than 94% of packaged foods could attract at least one warning under the proposed nutrient thresholds”
FSSAI ex-chief urges phased rollout
Pawan Kumar Agarwal, former FSSAI chief, wants warnings to start with less strict thresholds and tighten over three to five years.
“i proposed starting with less stringent interim thresholds and progressively tightening them to the final limits over three to five years”
Why warnings could dilute impact
Applying final thresholds immediately might lead to warnings on nearly all packaged foods, reducing their effectiveness.
“applying the proposed final thresholds immediately could result in warnings appearing on nearly all packaged foods”
Nutrient thresholds analysis
A study of 44,109 retail food products found 94.1% exceeded at least one nutrient limit, with 85.3% of high-fat foods breaching two or more thresholds.
“the analysis found that 94.1% of the records exceeded at least one of the specified thresholds”
Specific nutrient warnings
Warnings will focus on added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium, not total sugar or total fat.
“added sugar rather than total sugar and added sodium after adjusting for naturally occurring sodium”
Supreme Court timeline
The Supreme Court asked FSSAI to respond to 12 questions on food labelling rules by September 28, with a deadline of September 20.
“the regulator was given ten days to respond with the matter listed for september twenty eighth”
What it means
94% of packaged foods in India exceed nutrient thresholds, risking warnings that could overwhelm impact if implemented immediately.
