FSSAI to introduce red hexagon labels for high-salt, sugar, fat foods

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a colour-coded labelling system featuring red hexagon warnings for food and beverage products high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats. The regulatory measure is intended to provide consumers with immediate visual cues about nutritional content, making it simpler to assess dietary impact during shopping.

The proposed framework establishes nutrient thresholds derived from guidelines developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN). These benchmarks will determine which products qualify for the warning label, ensuring consistency in classification across the food industry.

The initiative addresses growing public health concerns over diet-related non-communicable diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. By making nutritional information more conspicuous and accessible at the point of sale, regulators believe the system will empower consumers to make healthier dietary choices.

The FSSAI's proposal forms part of a broader global trend towards front-of-package labelling systems designed to combat unhealthy eating patterns. Similar warning label approaches have been implemented in several countries, with evidence suggesting they influence consumer purchasing behaviour and encourage food manufacturers to reformulate products with lower levels of harmful nutrients.