Supreme Court asks government to teach nutrition in schools

The court’s intervention came a day after the Centre told it that it was open to making red warning labels mandatory on packaged food products high in even one nutrient of concern. The court questioned the basis for distinguishing between products high in two.

It also suggested that the distinction between moderately processed foods and ultra-processed foods could be factored into the thresholds. The court raised equally pointed questions about the physical design of the proposed warning.

What Happened

FSSAI has suggested a red hexagon, one point larger in font than the nutritional information table on the back of the pack, carrying warnings such as “HIGH FAT”, “HIGH SUGAR” and “HIGH SALT”. The bench said the proposal was silent on the.

• It pointed to an apparent disparity between the 2024 Dietary Guidelines for Indians and the FSSAI’s earlier draft regulations in their use of “and” and “or” while defining high-fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) foods.

• The order recorded that the 2024 guidelines prescribe thresholds per 100 ml for liquids of 70 kcal, 175 mg salt, 2 gm added sugar and 1.5 gm added fat, and per 100 gm for.

• But the bench questioned whether simply applying these thresholds would erase the distinction between food categories 2 and 3 under the 2024 guidelines, and asked FSSAI whether the differences in processing and nutrient levels.

Key Details

It also asked how the font size would relate to the dimensions of the logo and where exactly the warning would be placed on the front of the package. The court further questioned the choice of red, noting that Indian consumers are.

• On the substance of the warnings, the bench sought clarity on whether thresholds would be based on total sugar and saturated fat, as reflected in the consensus recorded at a 2021 stakeholder consultation, rather.

• The court cited the UNICEF Child Nutrition Report 2025, noting that the proportion of overweight school-age children and adolescents aged five to 19 increased from 2% to 10% between 2000 and 2022.

• It also noted that while around 80% of food and beverages available inside schools are freshly cooked meals, nearly 80% of those available in the vicinity of schools are packaged snacks.

Why It Matters

It took issue with the FSSAI’s word-heavy approach, observing that a warning relying only on words presupposed a certain degree of literacy and comprehension across India’s diverse population. The bench said the regulator should consider combining words with pictorial representations of individual.

• It said FoPL could facilitate informed consumer choices and encourage product reformulation, contributing to healthier food environments, particularly for children.

• The court’s latest order said there was an “obvious, scientifically substantiated and commonly known nexus” between health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension and foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Hindustan Times as more details emerge