The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, aimed at enhancing consumer awareness and promoting healthier choices through clearer nutritional information on packaged food items.
Key highlights of the approved amendments include:
1. **Display of Nutritional Information**: Packaged food companies will now be required to display information in bold letters and increased font size regarding the percentage (%) contribution per serving to recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for total sugar, total saturated fat, and sodium content.
2. **Public Consultation**: The draft notification for these amendments will be released to the public soon for feedback and objections, ensuring transparency and stakeholder engagement in the regulatory process.
3. **Removal of Misleading Claims**: Directives have been issued to remove misleading terms like "Health Drink" from e-commerce platforms. Additionally, claims such as "100% fruit juices" on reconstituted fruit juice labels will be regulated more strictly to prevent consumer deception.
4. **Regulation of Advertisement**: Advertising of wheat flour and oral rehydration salts (ORS) products will also be regulated to ensure that health claims are verified and accurate, thereby preventing misinformation.
These amendments aim to empower consumers by providing them with clearer and more prominent nutritional information, enabling them to make informed decisions about their food choices. By promoting public health and well-being, the FSSAI intends to address the growing concerns related to non-communicable diseases and ensure that food labeling practices align with global standards and best practices.
The decision was made during the 44th meeting of the FSSAI, chaired by Apurva Chandra, and involved participation from various government ministries, industry associations, consumer organizations, research institutes, and farmers' organizations.
