FSSAI Organizes National Meeting to Reinforce Food Labeling, Advertisement Regulations, and Consumer Protection in India
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) held a National Stakeholder Consultation on food labelling, advertisements, and claims at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on August 13, 2025. The event, first published on August 14, marked a significant step towards building a more transparent and accountable food regulation system in India.
The consultation was attended by senior officials from both FSSAI and the Ministry, including G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Alka Rao, Advisor (S&S&R); U. S. Dhyani, Executive Director; and Satyen Kumar Panda, Advisor (QA), along with senior officials from the Ministry.
The discussion focused on strengthening regulations, protecting consumers, and aligning India's food safety rules with global standards. Approximately 700 stakeholders, including government officials, industry experts, and consumer groups, attended the consultation.
One of the key topics under discussion was the proposed star rating system for Foods of Public Health Importance (FOPL) by FSSAI. The consultation aimed to include a "cautionary warning" in the system to ensure consumers are well-informed about the nutritional content of the products they consume.
Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal called for stricter checks on claims in food advertisements, even when backed by scientific evidence. He emphasized the need for global best practices and closer scrutiny of products in the fast-changing food industry.
Health Ministry Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava also emphasized the importance of global best practices and the need for closer scrutiny of products in the food industry. She highlighted the need for a more practical approach to food regulation that prioritizes consumer safety without compromising the interests of businesses.
The consultation included discussions involving a variety of stakeholders, including industry, farmers, researchers, and consumer organizations. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare urged companies to avoid misleading advertisements and provide truthful and honest declarations.
Following a Supreme Court order, FSSAI convened the consultation to review existing food labelling regulations and address challenges. The consultation aimed to align with international standards and explore stronger consumer protections.
The consultation was a step towards building a more transparent food regulation system in India. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry's Additional Secretary, Prabhat, warned that false claims in food advertising can damage trust and harm public health.
In response to health concerns, legal directives, and consumer demands for clearer information on food products, FSSAI has introduced stricter food safety regulations for 2025 that significantly tighten rules on packaging, labelling, expiration date visibility, and nutrition information. The FSSAI is currently drafting rules for Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPL) of packaged foods.
The FSSAI has also issued an advisory limiting the use of “100%” claims on food product labels to prevent misleading consumers. Food manufacturers must now carefully revise product labels and possibly reformulate products to comply with these new guidelines.
These initiatives show FSSAI’s active and evolving approach in 2025 to curb misleading advertisements and promote truthful labelling, directly responding to health concerns, legal directives, and consumer demands for clearer information on food products.
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) aims to include a "cautionary warning" in the proposed star rating system for Foods of Public Health Importance (FOPL), ensuring consumers are well-informed about the nutritional content of their food choices, which aligns with their mission to promote health-and-wellness.
- As part of their efforts to strengthen food regulation and prioritize consumer health, the FSSAI has imposed stricter food safety regulations in 2025, including rules on packaging, labelling, expiration date visibility, and nutrition information, demonstrating a proactive stance in lifestyle improvements through science-based food policies and food-and-drink reforms.
