Supreme Court questions FSSAI's plan for red front-of-pack 'HIGH SUGAR/SALT/FAT' warnings on packaged food

In a public interest petition by 3S and Our Health Society, the Supreme Court examined the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's proposal for front-of-package labelling on packaged foods. In an earlier order of 13 August 2026 the Court had linked foods high in fat, sugar or salt to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. It had said the right to life under Article 21 includes the right to health and that Article 47 makes improving public health a primary duty of the State. By an affidavit of 28 August 2026, FSSAI proposed a red hexagonal warning label, in a first phase, for products high in two or more of added saturated fat, added sugar and salt, with products high in any one to follow in a second phase, measured against ICMR-NIN's Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024.

It would read 'HIGH FAT', 'HIGH SUGAR', 'HIGH SALT' or 'HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE', and single-ingredient foods and items such as ghee, oil, sugar, jaggery and honey would be exempt. The Court raised questions for FSSAI. These included the basis for covering only products high in two or more nutrients in the first phase, whether each nutrient needs its own hexagon, whether red might be confused with the non-vegetarian mark, how to stop manufacturers substituting preservatives and emulsifiers, and whether the regime should be mandatory from the start. It directed FSSAI to reply by affidavit within ten days and listed the matter for 28 September 2026.