Supreme Court Orders FSSAI to Draft Mandatory Front‑Package Warning Labels
Updated (2 articles)
Court Directs Immediate Labeling Proposal The bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan ordered the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider mandatory front‑of‑package warning labels on foods high in sugar, salt or saturated fat [1]. The directive, issued on 18 February 2026, requires the regulator to file its response within four weeks [1]. The court emphasized that the labels must be clear, prominent and understandable to consumers [1]. This move follows a series of judicial interventions targeting food‑related health risks [1].
Petitioners Cite Public Health Crisis NGOs 3S and Our Health Society argued that clear disclosures would enable consumers to make informed choices and could help stem rising deaths from diabetes and heart ailments [1]. They referenced the 2023 ICMR‑INDIAB study, which reported 101 million Indians (11.4% of the population) have diabetes, 136 million have prediabetes, hypertension affects 35.5% nationally, abdominal obesity 39.5%, and high cholesterol 24% [1]. The petitioners contend that labeling is a cost‑effective preventive measure compared to treatment [1]. Their filing urged the court to treat labeling as a public‑health imperative [1].
Regulatory Compliance Concerns Highlighted In 2025 the Supreme Court asked an expert committee under the FSSAI to recommend amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 [1]. After an extension, the February 2026 bench expressed unhappiness with the regulator’s compliance report, noting no positive results [1]. The FSSAI’s proposal to introduce an indigenous Indian Nutrition Rating system faced opposition from petitioners, who said it does not align with globally accepted standards [1]. The court’s dissatisfaction signals a push for stricter, internationally comparable labeling frameworks [1].
Court Aims to Influence Ultra‑Processed Food Industry The Supreme Court’s continued intervention seeks to compel the ultra‑processed food sector to adopt universally endorsed safeguards [1]. Front‑of‑package warning labels are positioned as a preventive step in the continuum of care for non‑communicable diseases [1]. By targeting high‑risk products, the judiciary aims to reduce the disease burden highlighted by recent health data [1]. This judicial pressure may reshape industry formulation and marketing practices across India [1].
Timeline
2011 – The Food Safety and Standards Regulations (section 2.10.1) define “tea” as a beverage derived exclusively from Camellia sinensis, establishing the legal baseline for tea labeling in India [2].
2020 – The Labelling and Display Regulations come into force, mandating accurate front‑of‑pack naming and requiring food business operators to disclose the true nature of their products [2].
2023 – The ICMR‑INDIAB study finds that 101 million Indians (11.4% of the population) have diabetes, 136 million have pre‑diabetes, 35.5% suffer from hypertension, 39.5% have abdominal obesity, and 24% have high cholesterol, underscoring the urgent need for preventive measures such as clearer food labeling [1].
2025 – The Supreme Court directs an expert committee under the FSSAI to recommend amendments to the 2020 Labelling Regulations, aiming to tighten front‑of‑package disclosures for unhealthy foods [1].
Dec 24, 2025 – The FSSAI issues a clarification that only beverages derived from Camellia sinensis may be marketed as “tea,” instructing food business operators to stop using the term for herbal or flower infusions; industry bodies welcome the move, saying it “removes consumer ambiguity” [2].
Feb 17, 2026 – A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan orders the FSSAI to propose mandatory front‑of‑package warning labels on foods high in sugar, salt or saturated fat and to file its response within four weeks, with petitioners arguing that “clear disclosures would enable consumers to make informed choices” and could curb rising deaths from diabetes and heart disease [1].