The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed prohibiting the addition of sucrose and fructose in food products intended for infants up to six months of age.
Sucrose and/or fructose may be added when required as a carbohydrate source, subject to prescribed limits. The draft amendment seeks to introduce a specific restriction on their addition in products intended for infants in the first six months of life. “The first six months are a critical period for infant growth and development, making appropriate nutrition particularly important. Unhealthy dietary patterns are among the risk factors associated with childhood obesity and related health problems. “The proposal also complements public health recommendations advocating exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. The notification has been issued for public consultation.
The draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on Friday (October 16, 2026) proposes to amend the existing regulations governing the nutritional composition, quality and safety of infant nutrition products. Under the existing Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, lactose and glucose polymers are the preferred sources of carbohydrates in infant nutrition products. The proposed restriction aims to ensure that products intended for this age group meet their nutritional requirements without the addition of sucrose and fructose,” the government maintained in a release issued on Saturday (October 16). Stakeholders have been invited to submit objections and suggestions within 60 days from the date on which copies of the official gazette containing the notification are made available to the public.
Because of its potential implications for the development of dietary preferences and long-term dietary habits, it added that early exposure to added sugars is a public health concern.
The proposed amendment states that “sucrose and fructose shall not be added in the products intended for infants up to the age of 6 months”. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding during this period, followed by the introduction of nutritionally adequate complementary foods alongside continued breastfeeding,” said the release.
FSSAI will consider the representations received within the stipulated period before finalising the amendment. The proposed restriction will become part of the regulatory framework only after the amendment is finalised and notified. Earlier reporting noted: India’s food regulator proposes ban on added sugars in infant foods Oct 17 – India’s food safety regulator on Saturday proposed a ban on adding sucrose and fructose to food products for infants up to six months of age, tightening rules on added sugars in infant nutrition products. Earlier reporting noted: The move comes amid an intensifying food safety crackdown in India, where regulators have forced local eateries and branded restaurants to suspend operations, while a push for front-of-pack warning labels has rattled the country’s more than $100 billion packaged food industry.
Earlier reporting noted: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India said the proposed measure aims to reduce infants’ exposure to added sugars and address health risks linked to childhood obesity.
