India Faces Pressure to Tighten Food Labelling Rules Amid Rising Obesity Concerns

India's food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is under pressure to implement stricter labelling rules for packaged foods. A recent study found that a can of Fanta sold in London contains significantly fewer calories and less sugar than the same drink sold in India.

The Indian version of Fanta also uses an artificial colour, but this information only appears in fine print on the back of the can. Health activists have challenged the regulator's decision to drop plans for prominent, colour-coded warnings on the front of packaged foods.

Instead, the FSSAI suggested a black-and-white nutritional table showing sugar, salt, and fat levels. This proposal has been met with opposition from industry groups, who argue that warning labels could confuse consumers and not necessarily change eating habits.

Coca-Cola India executive Mili Bhattacharya questioned whether consumers would alter their diets simply because of symbols or icons on packaging.