New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Thursday said it is concerned about the health of people, especially growing children, and wants all concerned with food safety to consider in “national interest” the issue of front-of-pack warning labels for packaged products containing high salt, sugar and fat products.
Supreme Court Questions Food Safety Guidelines on Packaged Foods
The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a case on September 28 regarding food labeling standards. The court has directed the involved parties to review an order related to the issue. This follows a plea from the public charitable trust ‘3S and Our Health Society’, which raised concerns about the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and its guidelines for labeling packaged foods.
During the hearing, senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing an intervenor, criticized the FSSAI for equating ultra-processed snacks like ‘Kurkure’ with healthier options such as eggs and salted cashews. Kamat argued that ultra-processed foods should carry more prominent warning labels.
He proposed using a different color for warning labels on ultra-processed items, suggesting that red should indicate non-vegetarian products, while another color could signal high levels of sugar, salt, or fat.
In response, the FSSAI submitted a compliance affidavit, stating its intention to implement clear and visible warning labels for foods high in certain nutrients of concern. The authority faced criticism for delaying the introduction of these labels, especially as obesity has been identified as a significant public health issue in India.
Earlier, the FSSAI has told the top court that it has proposed to provide a prominent front-of-pack warning label in red colour for food products which are high in added saturated fat, sugar and salt.
