Truth in Packaging: FSSAI Calls for Transparent Food Labels

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday urged the food manufacturing industry to ensure "truthful and honest declarations" on food labels and packaging.

At the National Stakeholder Consultation on the ‘Comprehensive Analysis of Regulatory Framework on Food Labelling, Advertisement and Claims’ held at Vigyan Bhawan, the FSSAI stressed the shared responsibility of providing accurate, transparent, and trustworthy information on food packaging. This, it said, empowers consumers to make safe, healthy, and informed choices with confidence.

In her opening remarks, Health and Family Welfare Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the growing need for ethical labelling and advertising practices in the rapidly evolving food sector.

“Things are changing rapidly today. We are now exposed to the entire world, which means we must adopt many positive changes and best practices, while also scrutinising food products more closely. In this fast-moving world, consultations like this are vital,” Srivastava said.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare urged the industry to "make truthful and honest declarations and voluntarily come out and say what the product contains and desist from misleading advertisements and manipulative practices".

“Food labelling should not just be a marketing tool, but it should also be treated as the most essential factor of trust between a manufacturer and a consumer. We want a truthful and honest declaration of whatever is contained in the food product, and the consumer should be left to make the final choice,” Khare added.

The consultation saw participation from around 700 attendees, including government officials, scientific experts, and food industry representatives. Discussions focused on evaluating the current regulatory framework and identifying challenges in its implementation.

Experts also explored ways to align with international standards to better protect consumers and promote public health.

The event is part of a broader series of stakeholder dialogues aimed at refining regulations through collaboration with industry, academia, consumer groups, and other key partners.