New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been directed by the Supreme Court to respond to a suggestion to introduce front-of-pack warning labels on packaged food items containing high levels of sugar, salt and saturated fat.
The bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice V Viswanathan was hearing a public interest litigation filed by charitable trusts 3S and Our Health Society. In the petition, directions have been sought to be issued to the Centre, states and Union territories to implement mandatory Front-of-Pack (FoP) warning labels on packaged foods, as reported by News18.
FoP labelling allows consumers to make a quick and informed purchasing decision.
The FSSAI, in its affidavit, said it plans to carry out further research and systematically map a representative sample of packaged food products across both solid and liquid categories.
It intends to conduct consumer surveys to assess how label information is used and to hold wider consultations with stakeholders, including industry players and small and medium enterprises, the regulator informed the Court.
The bench expressed dissatisfaction with the response, observing that the steps taken so far had not produced any clear outcome.
“The PIL was filed with a particular purpose. It raised an important issue as regards the right to health of the citizens of this country,” the bench noted, directing the FSSAI to file its response on the suggestion within four weeks.
