As the Supreme Court examines the proposed front-of-pack labelling framework of the FSSAI, attention is increasingly shifting towards the preparedness of India’s food-testing system. The accuracy and consistency of laboratory results will be critical because warning labels could directly affect how packaged food products are presented to consumers.
Under the proposed system, products containing high levels of sugar, salt or saturated fat may be required to display clear warnings on the front of their packaging. Such declarations could influence consumer choices, product formulation and brand reputation while also carrying regulatory and commercial consequences for manufacturers.
Ashwin Bhadri, CEO of Equinox Labs, said nutrition data would face much greater scrutiny once nutrient levels began determining how products were presented to consumers. The reliability of the testing behind these numbers would therefore become extremely important.
India already has an established food-testing network. FSSAI has prescribed testing methods for various food categories, while laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories operate according to ISO/IEC 17025 standards. Accredited laboratories generally have the capability to measure nutrients such as total fat and sodium.
However, the larger challenge lies in ensuring that validated methods are applied consistently across laboratories and different food products. Biscuits, beverages, dairy products, confectionery, snacks and ready-to-eat foods have different compositions, which can affect sampling, testing and interpretation. Strong sampling procedures and uniform protocols will therefore be required to produce comparable results.
Added sugar presents another layer of complexity. A laboratory may determine the total amount of sugar present in a food, but it may not always be able to distinguish between naturally occurring sugar and sugar added during formulation or processing. Test findings may consequently need to be examined alongside the product’s ingredient list, formulation records and relevant regulatory definitions.
The 2024 dietary guidelines issued by ICMR-NIN identify added fat above 4.2 grams per 100 grams, added sugar above 3 grams per 100 grams and salt above 0.625 grams per 100 grams in solid foods as levels of concern. FSSAI’s 2026 draft regulations for food served in schools also refer to these thresholds. According to Bhadri, the central issue is whether adequate standardisation exists across laboratories, food categories and the interpretation of results.
Food companies are also beginning to recognise front-of-pack warning labels as an approaching regulatory reality. Shippy Sharma, founder and managing director of Earthling Consumer Products, described clear warnings for foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat as a positive step. She said consumers should be able to compare products easily without struggling to interpret detailed nutritional information printed on the back of packs.
Greater transparency could also encourage manufacturers to reformulate products and introduce healthier alternatives. However, the effectiveness of warning labels will ultimately depend on whether consumers understand what the symbols mean.
As the Supreme Court awaits technical and operational affidavits from the Union Government and FSSAI, experts maintain that laboratory capacity alone will not be sufficient. India will need standardised testing protocols, reliable sampling systems and consistent interpretation to ensure that front-of-pack declarations command the confidence of consumers, regulators and the food industry.