SC questions why FSSAI can't make front-of-pack labels mandatory immediately

The Supreme Court has questioned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's proposal to introduce front-of-pack warning labels in two phases. FSSAI had planned to first cover products high in two or more nutrients of concern, followed by those high in any single nutrient.

The Court sought clarification on why the mandatory labelling system cannot be implemented uniformly from the outset rather than through a gradual rollout. The questioning suggests judicial scrutiny of the regulator's timeline and approach to ensuring food safety transparency for consumers.