The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 10, 2026) said it was concerned about the health of people, especially growing children, and wanted those involved in food safety to consider, in the “national interest,” the issue of front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods high in salt, sugar and fat.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said they would pass a detailed order seeking some information from the concerned parties on the “serious matter”.
“Our only concern is the health of the people, especially the growing children. We want all concerned to consider the case in the national interest,” the bench said, adding that the order would be uploaded in a day or two.
The Supreme Court said it has also done some homework on the issue and has asked the parties to study the order that will be uploaded and post the case for hearing on September 28.
During a brief hearing on a plea filed by public welfare trust 3S and Our Health Society, the bench told the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that the contents of packaged food products are always on the back of the packaging, but has the body laid down any guidelines as to whether the contents are high in sugar, salt or fat beyond this limit? Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for FSSAI, said that at the international level, two conditions need to be mentioned on the back of the packet.
The contents must indicate the quantity of 100 grams and the quantity per serving, he said.
Senior advocate Devadatt Kamath, appearing as a mediator, said the government is putting Kurkure snack on the same pedestal as other nutritious foods like eggs and salted cashew. He said ultra-processed foods should carry a higher level of warning.
“Red is for non-vegetarians and green is for vegetarians. So instead of red, some other color can be used for the warning label in case of ultra-processed foods,” he said.
The judge wrote down his suggestions and said she would issue a ruling, which would be uploaded in a day or two.
FSSAI had earlier told the Supreme Court that it had proposed a prominent red warning label on the front of the package for food products high in added saturated fat, sugar and salt.
In a compliance plea filed in the Supreme Court, FSSAI said the proposal is intended to provide consumers with a simple, visual and understandable warning about food products high in certain nutrients of concern.
“It is proposed to place a prominent warning label in the shape of a red hexagon on the front of the package for foods high in any two or more of the following nutrients of concern, namely, added saturated fat, added sugar and salt, based on the threshold values specified in the Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 issued by ICMR-NIN,” the affidavit said.
It states that the warning label must include applicable declarations such as “High Fat,” “High Sugar,” “High Salt,” and/or “High Sugar Beverage,” as appropriate, so that consumers can easily identify foods high in the specified nutrients.
The affidavit was filed in accordance with the Supreme Court’s August 13 order in a lawsuit filed by public charity 3S and Our Health Society.
The petitioner, represented by advocate Rajeev Shankar Dwivedi, has sought directions to the Centre, states and union territories to make front-of-package labeling (FOPL) mandatory on packaged food products.
On August 13, the Supreme Court, while directing the Center to decide on the appearance of front-of-package labeling of packaged foods, asked whether India should remain an underdeveloped country.
The court said it did not approve of the Union government’s position that it was impossible to comply with international standards, especially those of developed countries.
Front-of-pack labeling (FOPL) is a nutritional information graphic on food packaging that can help consumers make informed food purchasing decisions and healthier eating choices.
The court said FOPL is necessary to create awareness, especially among growing children who are increasingly becoming dependent on junk food.
He criticized FSSAI for the delay in introducing warning labels on packaged foods, noting that obesity is recognized as a public health problem in India.
He also asked the Union of India to consult experts and decide on the appearance (color indicators, explanatory words, numbers, letters or symbols, numerical information, percentage) of the fiber optic communication line.
“If the Union does it on its own, fine. Otherwise, we will continue to take further directions,” the Bench said sternly, giving the government two weeks to record the final decision.
In an affidavit, FSSAI later told the court that it is proposed to introduce front-of-pack nutrition labeling (FoPNL) in a phased manner to facilitate consumer acceptance of the product and provide sufficient time to the industry to reformulate.
It says that while Phase I will cover foods high in two or more specific nutrients (added fat, added sugar and salt) and certain sweetened beverages, Phase II will extend the warning to foods high in any of those nutrients.
Published – September 10, 2026 01:42 PM EST.