"Stop Hiding Junk Food Secrets!" Supreme Court Gives FSSAI 2-Week Ultimatum for Front-of-Pack Warning Labels on Packaged Foods!

In a major push for public health transparency, the Supreme Court of India has issued a strict two-week deadline to the Central Government and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to finalize mandatory Front-of-Package Warning Labels (FOPWL) for packaged foods. Expressing sharp displeasure over the regulator's prolonged delay since its initial February 2026 directives, a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran pulled up authorities over apparent hesitation and industry lobbying, warning that if the government fails to place a clear policy on record within two weeks, the top court will step in and dictate the judgment itself.

The hearing-based on a public interest litigation filed by the non-profit 3S and Our Health Society-saw the court dismiss arguments that warning symbols would hurt small businesses or label traditional items like namkeen as unhealthy. Firmly rejecting the idea that India should not adopt global health standards, the judges asked, "Are you taking the court for a toss? You don't want people of this country to remain healthy, more particularly growing children?" The bench clarified that it was not seeking to ban any snack, but insisting that ordinary citizens have an immediate right to know if a product is loaded with excessive sugar, salt, or saturated fats before paying for it.