The Supreme Court has directed the central government to finalise amendments to food labelling rules within a three-month timeframe, ensuring that crucial nutritional details are clearly printed on packaged food products. The directive was issued while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking mandatory “Front of Package” warning labels on food packets.

A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan emphasized the urgent need for transparency in food packaging. “You have grandchildren? Wait for the order. Then you’ll understand what’s inside Kurkure and Maggi, and how that should be labelled,” Justice Pardiwala remarked during the hearing, highlighting the lack of information currently displayed on food wrappers.

The Centre referred the court to an affidavit filed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), stating that over 14,000 comments had been received on the proposed changes to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. Based on this feedback, amendments are already under consideration.

After taking note of the Centre’s response, the court disposed of the petition, but not before making it clear that the amended norms must be finalized within three months.

Back in June 2024, FSSAI had approved changes that would require nutritional elements such as total sugar, salt, and saturated fat to be prominently displayed on food labels using bold fonts and larger sizes. This initiative is intended to help consumers make informed dietary choices.

According to a statement by the government, the revised norms aim to improve public awareness by showing the percentage contribution of these ingredients to an individual's daily nutritional allowance (RDA). Specifically, Regulation 2(v) and 5(3) of the 2020 labelling rules would mandate the inclusion of serving size and nutritional values on all packaged food items.

The statement added that in addition to promoting healthier eating habits, these labelling rules are a crucial step toward tackling the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and enhancing overall public health. Clear and easy-to-read nutritional information is expected to play a vital role in aligning India with global public health initiatives.