Delhi: The Indian government is preparing to take stringent action against restaurants that have yet to comply with mandatory nutritional labelling on their menus. This move comes two years after the regulation was introduced in July 2022, with many establishments still failing to provide essential details about the nutritional content of their food, including the amounts of carbohydrates, protein, and sugar.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has observed widespread non-compliance with the regulations, both online and in physical locations, said a senior official. This issue is considered serious, and the authority plans to issue notices to restaurants that have not complied, providing them with a clear deadline to meet the guidelines.
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The regulation mandates that restaurant chains with ten or more outlets must clearly display nutritional information alongside their menu items. However, despite the regulation being in place for two years, many establishments have failed to implement these changes, leaving consumers in the dark about the nutritional content of their meals.
Sagar Daryani, vice-president of the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI), acknowledged the challenges faced by restaurants in adhering to the rules. “While many large chains provide nutritional information in separate manuals, adding these details directly to the menu, can be difficult and may lead to cluttered presentations,” Daryani explained. He added that there is currently no requirement to display this information on online platforms.
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Industry leaders have expressed concerns about the practicality of the regulations, arguing that they are unrealistic. “Our consumers make informed choices about the types of food they prefer. Comparing our offerings with those of a salad-only chain doesn’t seem fair,” said a senior executive from a leading quick-service restaurant chain.
The menu labeling regulation, aimed at providing consumers with crucial information about the caloric and nutritional content of their food, has been mandatory for certain restaurant categories and food delivery platforms. The FSSAI’s move reflects growing consumer health awareness and the need for transparency in an era of increasing dining out and online food ordering.
Earlier this year, FSSAI extended these requirements to airline caterers with central licenses. The push for clearer front-of-pack labeling on less healthy foods and beverages is also gaining momentum, driven by health advocates, industry leaders, and social media influencers.
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In July, FSSAI introduced new guidelines requiring packaged food producers to display nutritional information, including total sugar, salt, and saturated fat, in bold and larger font sizes, highlighting the ongoing commitment to improving food labeling standards.
