Global Food Conglomerates Accused of Using Double Standards in Product Formulations

Global food conglomerates Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle have been accused of using double standards in their product formulations across different geographical markets. An investigation by Reuters found that these companies lobbied against mandatory front-of-pack health warnings on processed foods and soft drinks in India.

The FSSAI was initially planning to introduce traffic-light style warning labels, but after a tense meeting with industry executives, the regulator dropped its proposal in August. Instead, manufacturers are allowed to display simple tables listing sugar, fat, and sodium content on the back of packages.

Public health advocates have pointed out that packaged goods sold in India regularly feature elevated sugar levels, synthetic dyes, and cheaper fat substitutes like palm oil, whereas European variants of the same brands use reformulated recipes with lower sugar content and natural ingredients.

The FSSAI's decision is currently facing scrutiny from the Supreme Court of India following public interest litigation filed by health activists seeking greater labelling transparency. The top court previously directed regulators to consider front-of-pack alerts, referencing international models like Israel's system of red-and-green warning symbols.