The Supreme Court has raised concerns regarding the delay by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in enforcing mandatory front-of-pack warning labels (FOPL) for packaged food products that are high in salt, sugar, and fat. This inquiry took place during a hearing on September 10, where a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran sought clarity on the definition of a “reasonable period” within which such mandatory warnings could be established.

During the proceedings, the court scrutinised the rationale behind the FSSAI’s proposal for a phased rollout of FOPL. The justices expressed concern over why warnings could not be implemented immediately instead of following a gradual approach. This question has become increasingly relevant as the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents continues to rise.

The judges referred to UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Report 2025, emphasising the growing issue of overweight children. They indicated that while 80 per cent of food available in schools consists of freshly cooked meals, a significant portion of the food options surrounding these schools is packaged snacks, which raises health concerns.

Government’s Responsibility and Nutritional Education

The Supreme Court directed the Centre to provide a response within ten days regarding these issues. In addition to the implementation of FOPL, the court requested that the government explore ways to integrate nutritional education into the school curriculum. The emphasis was placed on the necessity of fostering nutritional literacy among students through various educational initiatives.

The court also sought detailed information from the Centre regarding how schools plan to deliver lessons on nutrition and health. This would encompass the methods and programs designed to teach students about dietary choices. The overarching goal is to ensure that children are educated on the importance of nutrition and informed about the products they consume.

Another point of concern raised by the court pertained to the proposed visual format of the “red hexagon” warning label, which the FSSAI intends to use. The justices noted that this design could potentially confuse consumers, as it bears resemblance to existing warning labels for non-vegetarian food items.

Overview of Front-of-Pack Labelling Proposals

The proposed hexagonal warning label would indicate high levels of certain nutrients, with declarations such as “High Fat,” “High Sugar,” and “High Salt,” allowing consumers to easily identify potentially unhealthy choices. These measures are based on thresholds outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, as issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition.

This compliance affidavit was submitted following an August 13 order from the Supreme Court, which had been prompted by a public interest litigation (PIL) encouraging the government to adopt mandatory front-of-pack warning labels across packaged food products. The petitioner in this case has highlighted the urgent need for these regulations, citing health concerns related to dietary habits among the population.

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