New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for its reluctance to introduce front-of-pack warning labels (FOPWL) on packaged food products to indicate levels of sugar, salt and saturated fats.
“Are you taking the court for a toss? There is immense pressure at the end of all these corporate houses on you. And you are succumbing to that pressure. We are doing this in public interest. Keep that in mind. We are not doing it for ourselves. Why are you not abiding by our order? What have you done so far? We know the pressure on you. Will you do it on your own or should we pass an order?” a bench of Justice J B Pardiwala remarked.
He further asked if the authorities did not want people, especially children, to grow up healthy.
“In this country, how many people can afford dry fruits? How many children buy Kurkure? That makes all the difference. We are not against any particular product. We only want the person purchasing it to know what they are consuming,” the top court stated.
The court gave the government a last chance, asking it to place its final decision on record in two weeks, failing which the bench said it will issue directions.
The Supreme Court was hearing a case in which it had earlier urged the FSSAI to consider introducing such warning labels in the interest of public health.