Food Industry vs. Health Experts: The Battle Over Front-of-Pack Labels in India
Indian diets have long been a concern for obesity watchers and the health community. Now, packaged snack and food manufacturers are echoing this sentiment, but in a starkly different context. Their worry centers on a proposed rule requiring front-of-package nutrition labels to declare high fat, salt, or sugar content. They argue this Western-inspired system doesn't fit India's unique food habits, sparking a heated debate as the Supreme Court oversees the issue with little progress on implementation.
Not Made For India, Industry Claims
Industry members contend that the labelling model, inspired by countries like France and Chile, fails to reflect India's diverse dietary patterns, portion sizes, and eating styles. While Western diets often feature large portions of processed foods like burgers, Indian diets typically mix processed items such as jams with freshly prepared meals like dal and roti.
Raghav Jadli, president of the All India Food Processing Association, highlights that many processed foods are consumed in small portions—10-20g at a time—making per-100g warnings misleading. For example, pickles or jams eaten sparingly could appear excessively high in salt or sugar under this calculation.
Industry experts also note that packaged foods account for less than 12% of India's calorie intake, with most coming from homecooked meals. They question local evidence for warning thresholds and warn that labels might push consumers toward unregulated street food or discourage reading detailed nutrition info. Economically, micro, small, and medium enterprises could face challenges adapting traditional recipes.
Effective Safeguard, Say Experts
Public health experts counter that front-of-pack labels empower consumers with quick information, crucial as obesity and diabetes reach epidemic levels in India. Dr. Subba Rao M of the National Institute of Nutrition emphasizes that awareness can reduce harmful intake, aligning with guidelines to limit added sugar and salt.
Senior gastroenterologist Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy compares the labels to cigarette warnings, noting their potential to educate and improve choices. He stresses the need for Indian-specific obesity metrics, as many Indians have truncal obesity despite not appearing overweight.
Studies, including a 2025 Lancet report, link ultra-processed foods to higher disease risks, with over 55% of India's disease burden attributed to unhealthy diets. Health organizations like the Public Health Foundation of India advocate for immediate label implementation, citing cost-effectiveness and global success in reducing unhealthy consumption without harming small businesses.
What Kind of Label?
Models recommended by ICMR-NIN include:
- Warning labels: Red labels for products with over 10% calories from fat or sugar.
- Nutri-score: A color-coded system from dark green (healthiest) to dark orange (highly unhealthy).
- Health star rating: 0.5 to 5 stars, with more stars indicating healthier food.
High Disease Burden
India faces a severe health crisis:
- Second-largest adult diabetes burden globally, with 9 crore cases.
- 11.4% of Indians, including children, live with diabetes, above the global average.
- Obesity rates have nearly doubled for women and more than doubled for men from 2005-06 to 2019-21.
- Projections suggest 2.7 crore obese children and adolescents by 2030, representing 11% of the global burden.
FSSAI continues stakeholder consultations, but the Supreme Court has expressed dissatisfaction with delays. As science, business, and consumer rights collide, experts warn that further postponement could exacerbate India's diet-related disease epidemic.
