Hyderabad: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is considering a new rule that would make zero added sugar mandatory in milk-based foods meant for infants aged six to 24 months, a move that could significantly change the country’s infant nutrition market, Telangana Today reported.
Under current regulations, manufacturers are allowed to add sugars such as sucrose and fructose to infant foods as long as they do not exceed 20 per cent of total carbohydrates. The proposed regulation would reduce this limit to zero, allowing only naturally occurring lactose in milk-based products.
For infants who are lactose intolerant, regulators are examining the possibility of allowing complex carbohydrates such as polysaccharides as alternatives to refined sugars, which would remain banned.
The proposed change comes after a report by Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network highlighted alleged “double standards” by some global baby food companies. The report claimed that certain manufacturers added sugar to infant cereals sold in developing countries such as India while selling sugar-free versions of the same products in European markets.
The findings triggered public criticism and pushed authorities to review infant food standards. With about 25 million births recorded each year, regulators believe removing added sugar from infant foods could help address rising concerns over childhood obesity and early metabolic disorders.
The proposal also aligns with recommendations issued by the National Institute of Nutrition in its Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024, which advise that children below two years of age should not consume added sugar.
The guidelines state that complementary foods introduced after six months should not contain sugar or salt and should instead include nutrient-rich homemade foods such as cereals, millets, pulses, milk, vegetables and fruits.
Nutrition experts say avoiding added sugar during infancy is important because early exposure can create a preference for sweet foods, increasing the risk of obesity, insulin resistance and other metabolic diseases later in life.
However, the proposal has drawn resistance from infant food manufacturers, who say the sudden change could create reformulation challenges and affect product taste and shelf life. Industry representatives have suggested that the rule be implemented in phases to allow companies time to adjust their formulations.
