Bigger, bolder labels: Companies look to put it back on FSSAI table

Industry executives say the transition to new nutritional labelling may have cost implications for companies as they usually have packaging stock for the next few months

- SHARLEEN D'SOUZA & AKSHARA SRIVASTAVA

The packaged foods industry is planning to go back to the Food Safety and Standards T Authority of India (FSSAI) after the regulatory body approved a proposal mandating the display of nutritional information - total sugar, salt, and saturated fat in bold letters and larger font sizes.

The draft notification for this amendment would now be publicly available for suggestions and objections, as announced in a press statement on Saturday.

"The industry will go back to deliberations along with FSSAI. There are many angles to cover. But it isn't very easy given the complex Indian dietary context," explained a senior executive from a leading packaged foods company. Another executive said the industry's response would be coordinated through collective representation, rather than individual companies approaching the regulator. "We will adhere to the new norms once finalised. For now, FSSAI has asked for comments on the new proposal," the executive stated.

On the proposed amendments, a Nestlé India spokesperson said: "We are already providing nutritional information on the back of our product packs and have also voluntarily included Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) labelling on front of our packs that provides consumers with transparent nutrition information in the context of a reference portion for energy and other key defined nutrients. As a compliant company, we will comply with the regulations."