Lok Sabha Question No. 550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Regulation of HFSS Food Labelling
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Sribharat Mathukumilli

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 550 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## REGULATION OF HFSS FOOD LABELLING

## 550. SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of broad categories of packaged food products in the country that are High in Fat, Salt or Sugar (HFSS);
- (b) whether the Government has assessed their share in overall processed food consumption and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the  Government has reviewed the effectiveness  of Front-of-Package  Labelling  (FoPL) in conveying nutritional risks to consumers and if so, the key findings of such reviews or consultations;
- (d) the comparison of India's labelling framework with international best practices such as the use of warning labels in countries like Chile and Mexico, especially in terms of consumer understanding and public health outcomes;
- (e) whether the Government intends to adopt stricter FoPL norms including warning labels for HFSS foods,  particularly  those  targeted  at  children  along  with  the  timelines  proposed  for  finalising  and implementing such regulations; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

(a) to (b) : Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) amendment Regulation, 2020 related to Front of Pack Nutritional Labelling (FOPNL) and High fat, sugar, salt (HFSS) etc. on 13th September 2022.

In  addition,  FSSAI has  notified the draft notification on 17th February 2025 mentioning that 'the information regarding per serve percentage (%) contribution to Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) be given in bold letters with relatively increased font size for added sugar, saturated fat and sodium content.'

FSSAI monitors labels and advertisements for misleading health claims and regularly inspects food products across India, including rural, urban, and e-commerce sectors. The regulatory authority also enforces sugar disclosure norms through the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, which help assess the market presence and consumer exposure to high-sugar foods.

(c)    to  (d)  :       The  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI)  has  informed  that  they  have commissioned IIM Ahmedabad to conduct a study on Front of Package Labeling (FOPL) to assess consumer preferences for different labeling systems.

The Indian Institute  of  Management  Ahmedabad  (IIMA)  conducted  India's  first  large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving over 20,000 participants across rural and urban areas to evaluate consumer understanding and impact of the front-of-pack labelling (FoPL).

(e) to (f) :  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that they have draft notified FSS (Labelling and Display) amendment Regulation, 2022 on 13th September 2022 as Front of Pack Nutrition  Labelling  (FoPNL)  Model.  The  draft  received  more  than  14,000  comments  from  various stakeholders including food business organisations.

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