‘Are you under corporate pressure?’:SC gives Centre, FSSAI 2-week ultimatum on packaged food warning labels

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday issued a stern, final ultimatum to the Central Government and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over the prolonged delay in implementing front-of-pack warning labels on packaged food items. A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran made it clear that if the government fails to take a decisive step within two weeks regarding warning labels for high sugar, salt, and fat content on snacks like chips, biscuits, and namkeen, the court will step in and issue direct orders. ‘We Are Concerned About Children’s Health’ Expressing deep concern over the rising health risks posed by packaged foods, the apex court questioned the government’s hesitation in enforcing strict nutritional warnings. The bench observed: “We are concerned about the health of the public, especially growing children. We had previously directed you to implement strict nutritional warnings, so why the hesitation? You must do what we have directed. Are you under pressure from corporate houses?” The court emphasized that its intervention is purely in the public interest. Pointing out the lack of progress, the bench noted that it had directed the government and the FSSAI to address this issue six months ago, yet no concrete action has been taken. The Core Conflict: Public Health vs. Food Lobby The court’s sharp remarks came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The Petitioner’s Argument: The petitioner’s counsel presented the minutes of an FSSAI meeting held on March 7, arguing that the regulator’s recent decisions directly contradicted the Supreme Court’s previous directives. The counsel alleged that the FSSAI is yielding to intense lobbying from the food industry while ignoring scientific evidence presented by civil society advocating for warning labels. FSSAI’s Defense: The FSSAI admitted that the food industry is strongly opposed to front-of-pack warning labels, fearing a severe impact on sales. As an alternative, the FSSAI proposed displaying the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of added sugar, saturated fat, and salt within a standard nutrition table on the back of the pack. SC Rejects Govt’s ‘Indian Namkeen’ Argument Representing the Centre, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Brijender Chahar argued that traditional Indian snacks, such as namkeen and bhujia, naturally contain higher levels of salt and fat. He contended that if standards from developed nations were applied blindly, a vast majority of traditional Indian snacks would end up carrying a “red warning mark,” hurting local businesses. The bench flatly rejected this line of reasoning, asking: “Should India always remain an underdeveloped country?” The court questioned whether the government did not want to ensure the health of its citizens and children. The bench asserted that while manufacturers might dislike the labels, consumers have an absolute right to know exactly what they are consuming. Warning Labels Do Not Mean a Ban, Clarifies Court The Supreme Court clarified that the proposed warning labels are not intended to halt the sale of packaged foods but to empower consumers. “The purpose is to make the consumer aware. Manufacturers may fear a hit to their business, but the final decision to purchase must rest with the consumer after seeing the warning. Manufacturers cannot have the final say in this matter,” the bench observed. The court has granted the Centre and FSSAI a final window of two weeks to comply with the warning label proposal, warning of direct judicial orders if they fail to do so. What is Front-of-Pack Labeling (FoPL)? Front-of-Pack Labeling (FoPL) refers to clear, easy-to-understand visual symbols or color-coded labels placed on the front of packaged food products. Unlike the detailed, fine-print nutrition tables on the back of packets, FoPL instantly alerts consumers if a product contains levels of salt, sugar, or saturated fat that exceed safe daily limits.