India’s Reluctance to Label the Truth: The Slow Path to Honest Packaging
Imagine this: You’re picking up a packet of chips or a sugary drink at your local store. What if—right on the front—it clearly said “High in Salt” or “Excess Sugar – Not for Regular Consumption”? Not in tiny letters buried in the back, but upfront, bold, and impossible to ignore. That’s the idea behind Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labelling (FOPNL)—and India’s been dragging its feet on it for far too long.
So What is FOPNL Anyway?
Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labelling (FOPNL) is a system where food products carry simplified nutritional information on the front of the pack. The idea is simple: make it easy—even at a glance—for consumers to understand whether a product is healthy or not.
Instead of deciphering confusing tables on the back, you might see a star rating, traffic light colors, or warning symbols that highlight high levels of sugar, salt, or saturated fats.
Countries like Chile, Mexico, the UK, and Australia are already doing this—and seeing positive shifts in consumer behavior. But in India? We’re still arguing about the format. If you see the below map, India has neither a mandatory nor a voluntary FOPNL policy.
India’s Slow Road to FOPNL
Let’s be honest—India’s progress on FOPNL has been painfully slow, and much of the delay can be traced back to regulatory hesitation and industry pushback.
- 2018: FSSAI proposed red warnings for high fat, salt, and sugar. Industry groups like the Food and Beverage Alliance of India (FBAI)—which includes giants like PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Coca-Cola—immediately pushed back, arguing it would hurt sales and mislead consumers.
- 2021–22: FSSAI dropped the red warnings and floated a more industry-friendly model called the Indian Nutrition Rating (INR)—a star-based summary similar to Australia’s Health Star Rating.
- 2023: A comprehensive study by ICMR-NIN tested five FOPNL styles across 3,231 participants in five states. The result? Warning labels were the most effective in helping consumers make healthier choices.
- 2024: The Supreme Court asked the regulator to stop stalling and act. FSSAI promised a phased rollout—but there’s still no clarity on final timelines.
Meanwhile, packaged food sales are booming in India—and most of these products are ultra-processed, high in sugar, salt, and bad fats.
The Five FOPNL Formats India Studied
The ICMR-NIN study looked at five global FOPNL formats:
- Nutri-Score (NS) – A color-coded A to E scale (green to red) based on overall nutrition.
- Health Star Rating (HSR) – Gives the product a rating from 0.5 to 5 stars.
- Nutri-Star Rating (NSR) – India’s proposed format: similar to HSR but with added local cues.
- Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL) – Shows green, amber, or red for sugar, salt, and fat individually.
- Warning Labels (WL) – Octagonal signs that say things like "High in Sugar" or "High in Fat."
The key takeaway? Warning Labels had the strongest impact. People were more likely to avoid unhealthy products when warnings were clear, unambiguous, and nutrient-specific.
Quick Comparison: The Pros, Cons & Who’s Using What
| Label Type | Pros | Cons | Countries Using It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutri-Score (NS) | Easy to scan; good for comparing options | Ambiguous; doesn’t highlight risks well | France, Spain, Belgium |
| Health Star Rating (HSR) | Familiar format; widely accepted in trials | Doesn’t warn; too generic | Australia, New Zealand |
| Nutri-Star Rating (NSR) | Local version of HSR; adds contextual cues | New; needs more testing | Proposed in India |
| Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL) | Very informative; nutrient-specific | Overload of info; visually messy | UK (voluntary), Ecuador |
| Warning Labels (WL) | Most effective in changing behavior; direct | Only flags bad—not good nutrients | Chile, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay |
What Should FSSAI Actually Do?
If India’s food regulator is serious about public health, here’s what needs to happen:
- Mandate Warning Labels for all ultra-processed foods that are high in sugar, salt, or fat. No half-measures.
- Add a Summary Score (like HSR or NSR) to help consumers compare products quickly.
- Set clear deadlines—no more open-ended, industry-friendly timelines.
- Launch a public awareness campaign in multiple Indian languages to make FOPNL meaningful beyond metros.
Consumers have the right to know what they’re putting into their bodies. Let’s not wait for diabetes and heart disease numbers to rise further before we act.
Final Word
FOPNL is not just a label—it’s a public health tool. It’s time FSSAI stopped appeasing industry lobbies and started putting consumers first. As the 4th largest economy, India needs to be seen leading the pack when it comes to honesty on the pack.