: 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. The court asked FSSAI to address this potential unintended consequence through corresponding regulation.
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 petition will be heard next on September 28 when the affidavit of FSSAI will be taken up by the court for passing necessary directions.
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. 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 court had on the earlier date raised concern on the possibility that reducing salt, sugar and fat in packaged foods could lead manufacturers to increase their use of artificial preservatives, emulsifiers and other additives, given the functional roles played by the three ingredients in taste, texture, shelf life and processing.
