NEW DELHI: Over 60 nutrition and public health scholars from 17 countries, including researchers from Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Oxford, have backed India’s mandatory warning labels on packaged foods and beverages high in nutrients of health concern, while urging FSSAI to strengthen system.In a written comment to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the scholars called for removal of the proposed “two or more nutrients” requirement, saying products high in one nutrient of concern should carry a warning. They said sugar, saturated fat and sodium can pose health risks and cited WHO guidance supporting thresholds.

The intervention comes amid the debate over front-of-package labelling. Supreme Court has also questioned FSSAI’s proposed phased rollout, including its “two or more nutrients” threshold, and sought a timeline for implementing front-of-package warnings.Dr Arun Gupta, founder of Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India and convenor of Nutrition Advocacy for Public Interest, said the scholars’ recommendations counter position taken by All India Food Processors Association, which opposed warning labels and advocated per-serving labelling.The scholars said warning labels have evidence of changing consumer behaviour, improving nutritional profile of the food supply and making purchases and dietary intake healthier. They cited evidence of reductions in calories, sugar, saturated fat and sodium.