India’s efforts to introduce clearer warning labels on packaged foods high in sugar, salt and fat have run into resistance from major food and beverage companies, raising questions about how nutritional information should be presented to consumers. The debate is now being examined by the Supreme Court after public health activists challenged the food regulator’s decision to move away from colour-coded warnings.
According to recordings and documents reviewed by Reuters, a senior Coca-Cola India executive, Mili Bhattacharya, questioned the effectiveness of warning symbols during the March 19 meeting. She argued that consumers who do not already examine ingredient lists would not necessarily change their diets simply because of a symbol on the package. Industry representatives also suggested that regulators should focus more on portion control.
India currently requires packaged food manufacturers to provide ingredient lists and basic nutritional information, primarily on the back of products. Since 2017, regulators have considered several alternatives, including colour-coded warnings and nutritional star ratings.
Public health experts, however, argue that front-of-pack labels can make nutritional information easier to understand. Around 20 countries have adopted some form of interpretive labelling, including systems that use colours or symbols to highlight nutritional concerns.
The controversy comes as health awareness among Indian consumers grows. A recent study published in The Lancet estimated that around 450 million Indians could be overweight or obese by 2050. Meanwhile, market-research firm Pharmarack reported a sharp increase in monthly sales of weight-loss medicines since early 2025.
The debate extends beyond labelling to differences in food formulations across countries. Himatsingka has compared products such as Fanta, KitKat and Maggi sold in India with versions available in Europe and Australia. For instance, Indian KitKat contains a lower percentage of cocoa solids than the Australian version cited in the report, while some Maggi products sold in Britain carry front-of-pack warnings for high salt content.
There have also been signs of companies responding to changing consumer preferences. Nestle announced in 2024 that it would introduce sugar-free Cerelac in India after years of criticism over added sugar in its baby-food products.
