Lok Sabha Question No. 204 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Regulation of Sugar Levels in Baby Food Products
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *204 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH FEBRUARY, 2026

## REGULATION OF SUGAR LEVELS IN BABY FOOD PRODUCTS

## *204. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that certain packaged food and infant nutrition products banned or reformulated abroad due to harmful content continue to be sold in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the findings of the 2024 joint report by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) and Public Eye, which states that multinational companies add high levels of sugar to baby food products in low and middle-income countries, while selling sugar-free versions in developed nations and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has initiated any inquiry, review or enforcement action to examine such disparities and ensure compliance with WHO recommendations on sugar limits in infant and child nutrition products; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the outcomes achieved so far and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHASTARRED QUESTION NO. 204* FOR 13 TH FEBRUARY, 2026

- (a) No such information is available with us.
- (b) Based on various media reports including the said report, inspections were conducted on various manufacturing sites engaged in the production of infant food products in the country. On scrutiny of the product labels, the added sugar was found to be in compliance with the provisions under the Food Safety and Standards (Food for Infant Nutrition) Regulations 2020, which are in alignment with the international standards like CODEX and WHO guidelines.
- (c) Further, inspections are conducted regularly at various manufacturing sites engaged in production of infant products in the country to ensure compliance with the WHO recommendations and FSSAI Regulations. Additionally, FSSAI has directed the States/ UT's Food Safety Authorities to conduct legalised targeted special enforcement and surveillance drives, inspections and sampling activities throughout the year. If any deviations from the standards or violations to the FSSR are observed, the defaulting FBOs are subject to regulatory action including punitive measures as stipulated under the FSS Act 2006 and its associated rules.
- (d) Details are at Annexure.

***

## Annexure

Details of the enforcement activity on food for infants in the last 3 years is provided as below.

| Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   | Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   | Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   | Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   | Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   | Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   | Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   | Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   | Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   | Details of Enforcement on Infant Milk Substitutes &Infant Food(Weaning Food)   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                           | of Samples Analysed                                                            | No. of Samples found non-conforming                                            | Non-Conforming Samples                                                         | Non-Conforming Samples                                                         | Non-Conforming Samples                                                         | Civil Cases                                                                    | Civil Cases                                                                    | Criminal Cases                                                                 | Criminal Cases                                                                 |
| Year                                                                           | of Samples Analysed                                                            | No. of Samples found non-conforming                                            | Unsafe                                                                         | Sub Standard                                                                   | Labelling defects/ Misleading/ Miscellaneous                                   | No. of Convictions                                                             | Penalties Raised ( Rs.)                                                        | No. of Convictions                                                             | Penalties Raised (Rs.)                                                         |
| 2024-25                                                                        | 522                                                                            | 45                                                                             | 5                                                                              | 18                                                                             | 22                                                                             | 23                                                                             | 2,47,000                                                                       | 0                                                                              | 0                                                                              |
| 2023-24                                                                        | 231                                                                            | 7                                                                              | 0                                                                              | 1                                                                              | 6                                                                              | 3                                                                              | 2,70,000                                                                       | 0                                                                              | 0                                                                              |
| 2022-23                                                                        | 389                                                                            | 30                                                                             | 2                                                                              | 11                                                                             | 17                                                                             | 8                                                                              | 1,89,000                                                                       | 1                                                                              | 1,50,000                                                                       |

******