Supreme Court questions FSSAI on thresholds for ‘high’ sugar, salt, fat warnings

The apex court intervened on Thursday, September 10, 2026, probing the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over its proposed front‑of‑pack warning labels that flag products high in added sugar, salt or fat. Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran questioned the regulator’s methodology for defining “high” levels, while Additional Solicitor General Brijender Chahar defended the reliance on existing dietary guidelines.

In its affidavit, the FSSAI outlined a plan to place a red hexagonal warning on the front of any package that exceeds thresholds drawn from the Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024, issued by the ICMR‑National Institute of Nutrition. The agency had earlier suggested a two‑phase rollout: the first phase would target items high in two or more of the three nutrients, and the second would expand to products high in any one. The court pressed on why the initial phase required multiple nutrients and hinted that a single‑phase approach might be preferable.

The hearing stemmed from a public‑interest litigation filed by the NGOs 3S and Our Health, which seek mandatory warnings to curb excessive consumption of sugar, salt and saturated fats. The justices underscored the broader health implications, noting particular concern for children’s nutrition, and indicated that a detailed order will soon demand further data from all stakeholders. A shift to a one‑step labeling regime could accelerate industry reformulation and give consumers clearer guidance on unhealthy packaged foods.