India’s $100B Food Industry Challenges FSSAI Warning Labels in Supreme Court

Reuters has reported that the more than $100 billion packaged-food industry, through the All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA), filed a court submission (intervener’s affidavit) in the Supreme Court seeking review/re-examination of the planned FSSAI front-of-pack warning labels (red hexagonal labels for products high in added sugar, salt, and/or saturated fat).

The filing argues that many staples risk being covered in warnings that “will tarnish the image of Indian food globally.” 

AIFPA referred to its earlier submissions to the regulator claiming that nearly 80% of packaged-food products may fall into the high fat, sugar, or salt category under the proposed thresholds (based on per-100g/100ml absolute values drawn from ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines). 

The 80% figure is the industry body’s own estimate/claim (not an independent verification), raised to argue the thresholds are too strict and need scientific re-examination in light of Indian dietary patterns, serving sizes (rather than fixed per-100g), and international approaches such as Codex.

Industry executives are concerned that the proposal to require a prominent label for products with more than 3% added sugar by weight and over 4.2% fat is tougher than the standards in many foreign markets.

AIFPA's members include Nestle, Coca Cola, Hindustan Unilever, and dozens of other foreign and Indian companies.