SC To FSSAI Expert Panel, Submit Report on Food Star Rating Labels
Last Updated on April 14, 2025 by Shianjany Pradhan
The Supreme Court has directed the Expert Committee set up by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to submit its report within three months regarding proposed amendments introducing a star-rating system on food packaging based on nutritional value.
The direction came while disposing of a PIL filed by the organization ‘3S’ and Our Health Society’, which urged the implementation of Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPL) to help consumers identify high levels of sugar, salt, and saturated fat in packaged foods.
The petition highlighted how such labels could support healthier food choices and help tackle lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart conditions.
The government informed the Court about the proposed amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2022, which includes an Indian Nutrition Rating (INR) — a simplified star-based front-of-pack label, ranging from 0.5 to 5 stars, indicating the overall nutritional quality of the food.
The FSSAI sought public feedback on this system and received over 14,000 comments.
An Expert Committee was formed in February 2023 to review the inputs and finalize recommendations.
The proposed INR system aims to balance harmful (sugar, salt, saturated fats) and beneficial (fiber, protein, nuts) ingredients to understand the food’s healthiness better.
The Court has asked for the Expert Committee’s report to be submitted promptly so that necessary regulatory amendments can proceed.
