The Supreme Court has backed India's proposed junk food labelling regulations, questioning the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over its implementation timeline. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran asked why FSSAI wants to waste time when the matter relates to citizens' health, reserving its final order on the proposed labelling framework. The court expressed concerns about the 4-month timeline for draft regulation publication and the 365-day voluntary implementation period proposed by FSSAI. The Supreme Court emphasized that "We are undertaking this entire exercise for the good of the nation and for the good of the citizens," expecting the authority to accept their order in its true spirit.
India is moving closer to new regulations that would restrict the sale of foods high in fat and sugar within a 50-metre radius of schools, according to reports from Business Standard. The rule would impact family-run stores, restaurants and food stands selling everything from sugary soft drinks and salty chips to greasy samosas and fatty pizzas or burgers close to India's 1.5 million schools. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has published thresholds for fat, salt and sugar content that would trigger restrictions on sales near and inside schools, with public feedback invited until October 6. Rajit Punhani, the chief executive of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, told Reuters that the "safe food" schools plan aimed to steer children away from unhealthy habits early on, stating that "We have to discourage children from having these. We have to inculcate this habit." Punhani added that "It will not have an impact on businesses in a major way. Shop owners can sell non-HFSS foods," saying regulations are aimed at nudging companies to reformulate recipes.
The proposed regulations could prove another hurdle for multinationals such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Mondelez and Nestle, which already face proposed rules to put red warning labels on products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), as reported by Business Standard. Some Indian businesses and grocery shop owners near schools are already expressing concerns about potential revenue impact. In Bhubaneswar city, a dozen shopkeepers said sales could drop by a third or more if the regulations are implemented. The Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry has expressed concerns about compliance difficulties, arguing that many schools are close to congested markets serving the general public. Rahul Khanna, a food regulations specialist at Indian law firm RAKLaw, said there was a "wave of concern" among his firm's clients, especially confectionery makers for whom children are an "important consumer segment." Major companies have responded to the proposed regulations - PepsiCo, which owns Lay's, referred to its global policy limiting school sales, while Nestle, which makes Maggi noodles, said it follows global policies allowing sales only of products meeting specific nutrition criteria.
According to Business Standard reports, the number of Indian children aged 5-19 deemed overweight or obese has climbed significantly from 28 million in 2015 to 41 million by 2025, with projections reaching 56 million by 2040, as reported by the World Obesity Federation. This surge has been attributed to the growing popularity of products ranging from Lay's chips to Cadbury chocolates and Maggi noodles, with some Indians viewing foreign brands as a mark of improving lifestyle. In 2023, Domino's launched its cheapest pizza globally in India, selling for just ₹49 (50 US cents). The World Obesity Federation data shows the obesity rate has increased nearly 50% from 2015 levels, highlighting the urgent need for intervention. A recent example shows 15-year-old Priyanshu Palei buying PepsiCo's Uncle Chipps packets to consume during recess, preferring them over his mother's packed lunch of rice and lentil stew.
The western state of Maharashtra, home to Mumbai, has taken a stricter approach with no shop within 50 metres of schools allowed to carry such products, as reported by Business Standard. State food safety commissioner Tukaram Mundhe explained that regulating whether shops are selling to schoolchildren or not would be difficult, stating that shops cannot stock these items. State data accessed by Reuters showed inspectors have found violations at 133 shops within 50 metres of schools, ordering 51 to discontinue business. The Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry has expressed concerns about compliance difficulties, arguing that many schools are close to congested markets serving the general public, stating that the law can cause "loss of business and livelihood" and restrictions should only apply inside schools.
According to Business Standard reports, around the world, five countries have proposed or implemented sale restrictions around schools, while 48 have restricted junk food sales inside schools, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina. Chile imposed new rules in 2016 on warning labels and prohibited junk food sales in schools, with a Lancet study showing 18 months of exposure to the law saw a 2.85% lower probability of excess weight among girls, and 2.4% among boys. Major companies have responded to the proposed regulations - PepsiCo referred to its global policy limiting school sales, while Nestle said it follows global policies allowing sales only of products meeting specific nutrition criteria. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has not set a fixed timeline for the law, first proposed in 2020.
