: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it is willing to implement Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FoPL) for packaged foot items in a single phase marking a shift from its earlier approach that sought to introduce the labelling norms in two phases depending on the number of “nutrients of concern” in a product.
The label, as proposed, will declare foods where only one nutrient of concern (more than the prescribed threshold) is present by mentioning it within the red hexagon. Where two or three nutrients of concern are present above the suggested threshold, the same nutrients shall be indicated within a single hexagon. Responding to the court’s order of September 10, which raised several questions over the size, colour, placement and deadline for implementing the proposed FoPL on packaged food items, the FSSAI in its response filed on Wednesday proposed the new design of the label that will clearly specify if the food has “HIGH FAT, HIGH SALT or HIGH SUGAR or even more of any two components. It was in this regard the bench of justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran on September 10 had directed the FSSAI to consider introducing the labelling of products with high level of either sugar, fat or salt along with products having more of any two components in a single phase in order to safeguard the collective health and well-being of all persons, especially growing children.
The response was filed in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by “3S and Our Health Society” which had sought introduction of FoPL guidelines as existing in foreign jurisdictions to ensure the children in the country are warned of foods that they may unknowingly consume without being aware of its adverse health effects. Responding on the size and shape of the warning label, which was initially proposed to be a red hexagon, the FSSAI proposed a “red Hexagon with white square shaped background” drawing inspiration from the format adopted by Canada. The court had asked FSSAI to consider having pictorial depiction of “nutrients” which the authority said would add to confusion and misunderstanding. the FSSAI said that as an informed choice to the consumer, “added sugar and added fat are to be considered preferably rather than the total sugar and saturated fat” content While the court had proposed if the total sugar can be mentioned on the label. The authority said that specifying total sugar and fat will make FOBs use artificial nutrients which have adverse health effects. The warning label would be displayed prominently on the top left of the front of the pack, ensuring clear visibility and legibility to consumers, the response said and the warning will be in a font size larger than the nutrition information table printed at the back of the pack.
