Lok Sabha Question No. 4205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Excessive Added Sugar in Soft Drinks and Consumer Safety
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4205

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## EXCESSIVE ADDED SUGAR IN SOFT DRINKS AND CONSUMER SAFETY

4205.  DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the high levels of added sugar in carbonated soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages marketed in the country and their potential adverse impact on consumers particularly children and adolescents;
- (b) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has prescribed any upper limits for added sugar content in such beverages and mandated clear front-of-pack labelling indicating sugar levels and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  stricter  labelling  norms,  sugar  reduction  targets  or other regulatory measures to safeguard consumer interests and promote informed choices; and
- (d) the  details  of  inspections,  compliance  actions  and  consumer  awareness  initiatives  undertaken  to address misleading claims and excessive sugar content in soft drinks during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) :  Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that it is mandated to lay down science based  standards  for  various  articles  of  food  products  including  Non-alcoholic  (carbonated  &  non-carbonated) beverages and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and FSSAI standards are uniform across the country.

Standards  for  non-alcoholic  beverages,  including  both  carbonated  and  non-  carbonated  beverages,  are prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. The said regulation also specifies the ingredients and additives permitted to be used in such products.

Further,  as  per  the  Food  Safety  and  Standards  (Labelling  and  Display)  Regulations,  2020,  nutritional information inter alia, Total sugars & added sugars content per 100 g, 100 ml, or per single consumption pack, along with the per-serve percentage contribution to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is required to be declared on the product label.

Additionally, every package of such food containing approved artificial sweeteners must carry the mandatory declarations  and cautionary warnings as prescribed under the regulations.

As  per  the  provisions  of  the  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act,  2006,  all  Food  Business  Operators (FBOs),  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  non-alcoholic  beverages,  including  both  carbonated and  noncarbonated beverages are required  to  comply  with  the  standards and requirements prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations.

Further, the implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is a shared responsibility between the Central and State Governments. While the FSSAI, under the Ministry of Health and  Family  Welfare,  is  responsible  for  laying  down  science-based  standards  and  ensuring  overall coordination, the State Food  Safety Authorities are primarily responsible for enforcement at the field level.

To ensure compliance with the set standards, limits, & other statutory requirements under the Act and food safety & standards regulations (FSSR), FSSAI, through State/UT food safety authorities and its four  regional  offices  conducts  regular  localized/targeted special  enforcement  and  surveillance  drives  on various Food products, inspections and sampling activities throughout the year. If any deviations  from the standards  or  violations  to  the  FSSR  are  observed,  the  defaulting  food  business  operators  (FBOs)  are subject  to  regulatory  actions,  including  punitive  measures,  as  stipulated  under  the  FSS  Act  2006  and  its associated rules.

(d) : The  details  of  inspections  undertaken  and  non-conformance observed with respect  to  Nonalcoholic (carbonated & non- carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25 are  tabulated  at Annexure-1.

Further,  the  details  of  enforcement activity  for  the  food  product Non-  alcoholic (carbonated & noncarbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25 are tabulated  at Annexure  -2.

Additionally,  FSSAI  has  notified  the  Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulation,  2018,  to  address  issues  related  to  misleading  claims,  labelling  and  advertisements.  These regulations  have  underlaid  clear  specifications  for  making  claims  on  food  businesses.  This  regulation ensures that food-related advertisements and claims  are accurate, non-deceptive, and align  with food safety standards.

Under Eat Right India Movement, FSSAI has  undertaken '# Har Label Kuch Kehta Hai' awareness campaign to empower citizens with label literacy for making informed food choices. The campaign  aims to educate consumers on key elements  of  food  labels  such  as nutritional information (calories, fats, sugars, protein, serving size), ingredient lists, allergen declarations, and date markings.

Further,  the 'Aaj  Se Thoda Kam'  campaign,  encourages  consumers  to  gradually reduce their intake  of  fat,  salt and sugar through simple dietary modifications.

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials are displayed and awareness activities are conducted during major exhibitions and events. Awareness is also disseminated through multiple social media platforms including  Facebook,  Instagram,  X (Twitter), YouTube and  Public App.

***

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  4205  FOR  18.03.2026  REGARDING  EXCESSIVE  ADDED  SUGAR  IN  SOFT  DRINKS  AND CONSUMER SAFETY.

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| The details of inspections undertaken and Non-conformance observed with respect to Non- alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | The details of inspections undertaken and Non-conformance observed with respect to Non- alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | The details of inspections undertaken and Non-conformance observed with respect to Non- alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                                                                                                                | Total no. of inspections                                                                                                                                            | Non-conformance observed                                                                                                                                            |
| 2024-25                                                                                                                                                             | 1911                                                                                                                                                                | 106                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 2023-24                                                                                                                                                             | 1373                                                                                                                                                                | 116                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 2022-23                                                                                                                                                             | 901                                                                                                                                                                 | 58                                                                                                                                                                  |

***

ANNEXURE -II

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  4205  FOR  18.03.2026  REGARDING  EXCESSIVE  ADDED  SUGAR  IN  SOFT  DRINKS  AND CONSUMER SAFETY.

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| Details of enforcement activity for the food product Non-alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | Details of enforcement activity for the food product Non-alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | Details of enforcement activity for the food product Non-alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | Details of enforcement activity for the food product Non-alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | Details of enforcement activity for the food product Non-alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | Details of enforcement activity for the food product Non-alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | Details of enforcement activity for the food product Non-alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | Details of enforcement activity for the food product Non-alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   | Details of enforcement activity for the food product Non-alcoholic (carbonated &non-carbonated) beverages FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                                                                                 | No. of Sample s Analyz ed                                                                                                            | No. of Samples found Non- Conformi ng during the year                                                                                | Non-Conforming Samples                                                                                                               | Non-Conforming Samples                                                                                                               | Non-Conforming Samples                                                                                                               | Details of Civil Cases                                                                                                               | Details of Civil Cases                                                                                                               | Details of Criminal Cases                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                                      | No. of Sample s Analyz ed                                                                                                            | No. of Samples found Non- Conformi ng during the year                                                                                | Uns afe                                                                                                                              | Sub standa rd                                                                                                                        | Labelling defects/Misbran ded/Misleading Claims/Others                                                                               | No.of cases decided                                                                                                                  | No.of cases decided                                                                                                                  | No.of cases decided Convicted                                                                                                        |
|                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                      | No.of cases awarded with penalty                                                                                                     | Penaltie s realized (₹) with & ment                                                                                                  | fine Imprison Penalties realized (₹)                                                                                                 |
| 2024- 25                                                                                                                             | 2873                                                                                                                                 | 256                                                                                                                                  | 43                                                                                                                                   | 109                                                                                                                                  | 104                                                                                                                                  | 184 9                                                                                                                                | 32,01,99 10                                                                                                                          | 3,50,000                                                                                                                             |
| 2023- 24                                                                                                                             | 2583                                                                                                                                 | 208                                                                                                                                  | 30                                                                                                                                   | 90                                                                                                                                   | 90                                                                                                                                   | 183 1,15,57, 700                                                                                                                     | 13                                                                                                                                   | 4,39,000                                                                                                                             |
| 2022- 23                                                                                                                             | 3152                                                                                                                                 | 786                                                                                                                                  | 29                                                                                                                                   | 125                                                                                                                                  | 638                                                                                                                                  | 199 84,69,30 0                                                                                                                       | 7                                                                                                                                    | 1,29,001                                                                                                                             |