Business · India Bureau
Front-of-pack warning labels can guide healthier food choices: Experts
Health experts say prominent warning labels on packaged foods high in sugar, salt and fat can help Indian consumers make better nutritional decisions at the point of purchase. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has proposed red hexagonal warnings for products exceeding specified nutrient thresholds.
LSN India ·
Front-of-pack warning labels identifying packaged foods with excessive amounts of added sugar, salt or fat can significantly improve consumer awareness of nutritional risks, according to health experts in India. The visible alerts are designed to make unhealthy food choices more apparent when shoppers are making purchasing decisions.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed implementing a red hexagonal warning symbol on the front of packaged food products that exceed specified thresholds for nutrients of concern. The thresholds are calibrated according to the ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, and will flag products that breach limits for even a single nutrient category.
Dr Naval K Vikram, Professor at the Department of Medicine at AIIMS-Delhi, said such labelling measures can play a crucial role in helping consumers identify foods with dangerously high levels of sugar, salt or fat at the point of sale. "Obesity and metabolic diseases are influenced by multiple factors, but dietary patterns and frequent consumption of highly processed foods are important contributors," Vikram said.
Experts have emphasized that front-of-pack warning labels should be accompanied by comprehensive nutrition education initiatives to maximise their effectiveness. The combination of clearer labelling and public awareness campaigns can help shift consumer behaviour toward healthier dietary patterns across India.