Indian Supreme Court Scrutinizes Food Labels Amid Rising Obesity Concerns

India's Supreme Court is reviewing a decision by the country's food-safety regulator to scrap plans for prominent nutritional warnings on packaged foods. The move has put major food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola and Nestlé, under scrutiny as health activists push for clearer information about high levels of sugar, fat, and salt.

A can of Fanta sold in Britain contains 63 calories, while the Indian version contains three times as much sugar and an artificial colourant that would require a prominent health warning in Europe. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) argued that international warning-label systems did not adequately reflect the stronger flavours used in Indian cuisine.

Health activists have challenged the decision before the Supreme Court, citing concerns about rising obesity and the need to help consumers make healthier choices. A recent study published in The Lancet estimates that about 450 million Indians could be obese or overweight by 2050.