India’s apex food regulator has decided to adopt the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) standards for defining foods high in fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS) for the first time, reported ThePrint.
According to officials, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will incorporate the HFSS definition into its Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations.
This definition will serve as the foundation for implementing front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) on all packaged food products, a policy expected to be issued by mid-July following Supreme Court directions, as per the news report.
The ICMR-NIN’s Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, describe HFSS foods as those made using large quantities of cooking oils or fats, or with high levels of added sugar and salt.
The guidelines also lay down thresholds for various nutrients of concern and state when certain food items can be categorised as HFSS.
“A decision to adopt the NIN guidelines was made after a working group set up in April this year recommended it. It was also validated by a NITI Aayog panel that is working on nutrition policy,” a senior FSSAI official told ThePrint.
The official further stated that a scientific panel is currently finalising the FOPNL policy.
