The government is preparing to take action against restaurants that have failed to disclose nutritional information, including carbohydrate, protein, and sugar content, on their menus—a requirement in place since July 2022. This move is expected to impact thousands of restaurants nationwide.
A senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) stated, “There is non-compliance both online and in physical stores,” and emphasized that the authority will take “serious note” of these violations. Despite the regulation, only a small number of restaurants have complied with the requirement to provide detailed nutritional information. Chains with 10 or more outlets are specifically required to display this information on their menus.
The FSSAI plans to issue notices to non-compliant restaurants, setting a deadline for compliance. This enforcement effort is likely to begin during the upcoming festival season.
Sagar Daryani, Vice President of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), representing over 500,000 restaurants, mentioned that many large and mid-sized chains already have manual books detailing nutritional information. However, he pointed out that displaying such details directly on menus can make them difficult to read.
Daryani, also the founder of Wow! Momo, noted that while it is not mandatory to display nutritional information on online platforms, the government’s move is seen by some in the industry as “unrealistic.” A senior executive at a large fast-food chain argued that the nutritional content of their offerings might be unfairly compared to healthier options, like salads, which could mislead consumers.
Menu labelling has been mandatory for certain restaurant categories and food delivery apps to inform consumers about the calorific value and nutritional content of their food. FSSAI regulations apply to restaurants with central licenses, outlets in at least ten locations, and e-commerce food business operators (FBOs).
Rashida Vapiwala, founder of LabelBlind, which aids businesses in complying with food labelling regulations, highlighted the growing importance of food safety amid rising consumer affluence and increased dining out. The enforcement of these regulations comes as front-of-pack labelling (FoPL) for less healthy foods and beverages gains traction, driven by health advocates and social media influencers.
Earlier this year, the FSSAI mandated that airline caterers comply with menu labelling norms, as they hold central licenses. Additionally, in July, the FSSAI approved a proposal requiring packaged food makers to display nutritional information, such as total sugar, salt, and saturated fat, in bold letters and larger font sizes.