On October 17, 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposed banning added sucrose and fructose in infant food products for children up to six months of age. The measure, open for 60 days of public comment, aims to curb early sugar exposure and address rising childhood obesity. A study in The Lancet projects India's overweight adult population will reach 450 million by 2050. The proposal follows broader food safety raids and stricter front-of-pack warning label regulations on packaged foods.
Proposed ban on added sugars in infant food
- ▪The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India published 'The draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations 2026,' giving stakeholders 60 days to submit objections and suggestions
- ▪On October 17, 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposed prohibiting added sucrose and fructose in food products intended for infants up to six months of age
- ▪Under India's existing 2020 regulations, lactose and glucose polymers are preferred carbohydrate sources for infant nutrition, while sucrose and fructose are allowed within prescribed limits
- ▪According to India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, restricting added sucrose and fructose in infant food aims to protect healthy growth during the critical first six months of life
Concerns over rising obesity and health risks
- ▪Indian public health activists and officials have raised concerns over rising childhood obesity rates and health risks associated with early consumption of added sugars
- ▪A study published in the medical journal The Lancet projected that the number of overweight or obese adults in India will increase from 180 million in 2021 to 450 million by 2050
Proposed warning labels for packaged foods
- ▪Following public outcry over front-of-pack labeling, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India tightened its red hexagonal stamp proposal to require a warning label if even a single nutrient exceeds prescribed limits
- ▪In August 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposed a red hexagonal warning stamp for packaged food products high in nutrients of concern such as sugar, salt, or saturated fat
Crackdown and enforcement raids on eateries
- ▪Indian food safety regulators have released public updates, including photos and videos of enforcement raids, as part of a broader food safety crackdown led by FSSAI
- ▪In 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and state regulators intensified food safety enforcement, forcing local eateries and branded restaurants to suspend operations
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