# FSSAI Proposes Simple Food Labels

> India's food safety agency sets one-year label transition for health warnings.
- Title: FSSAI Proposes Simple Food Labels · The Economic Times
- Summary: India's food safety agency sets one-year label transition for health warnings. FSSAI will require food products high in added sugar, fat or salt to display…
- Keywords: fssai, food safety, nutrition labeling, added sugar, added fat, salt, front-of-pack labels, india, supreme court, health warnings, Proposes, Simple
- Source: The Economic Times — https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/food/fssai-proposes-single-phase-food-warning-labels-gives-industry-one-year-transition/articleshow/134441255.cms
- Author: Indu Bhan
- Published: 2026-09-23T15:06:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: fssai, food safety, nutrition labeling, added sugar, added fat, salt, front-of-pack labels, india, supreme court, health warnings
## FSSAI updates food labels
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India plans new front-of-pack nutrition labels for packaged foods.

> The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has toughened its stance on proposed warning labels for packaged foods
## Single-phase implementation
FSSAI will implement warning labels in one phase with a year for industry to adjust.

> FSSAI told the Supreme Court that Food Business Operators will be given a year to comply with upfront labelling
## Label design
Warning labels use a red hexagon on white square background, similar to Canada's system.

> FSSAI proposed a red hexagon with white square shaped background FoPL format
## Nutrient thresholds
Products high in added sugar, fat or salt get red warning labels regardless of processing.

> if a freshly prepared lemon juice contains added sugar or salt above the threshold values
## Threshold values
Added sugar limit: 5% energy from added sugar, not exceeding 10% from total sugar.

> Threshold for sugar has been calculated at 5% energy from added sugar
## Label placement
Warning labels appear prominently on top left of food packaging.

> The proposed warning label would be displayed prominently on the top left of the front of the pack
## Industry transition
Food businesses get one year to update labels before July 2027.

> the intention of the fss act is also to take into consideration that any measure not be restrictive of trade
## Health considerations
Naturally occurring sugars in whole foods are healthier than added sugars.

> naturally occurring sugars in whole foods like fruits and dairy come packed with fibre
## Supreme Court response
FSSAI responds to court request for timeline on food labeling rules.

> FSSAI affidavit has come in response to the supreme court on september 10
## Label impact
Warning labels target sugary drinks and high-salt foods to improve health choices.

> the proposed warning label would have three components- white square shaped background
## Next steps
FSSAI will finalize rules by July 2027 after one-year transition period.

> the food safety regulator said that classifying a food as high in sugar without differentiating
## Key takeaway

FSSAI will require food products high in added sugar, fat or salt to display red warning labels by July 2027 after giving industry a year to adjust.