According to food regulations, labels on all pre-packaged foods are mandatory and no food product can be sold without proper labelling as specified in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. Labels on food products are important for two major reasons
- For the consumer they are important because the label information is used by the consumer to evaluate the food, the ingredients, nutritional value, weight, price etc. before buying the product.
- For the manufacturer it is a way of communicating with the customer and informing them about the quality and the important aspects of the food product
The information on the label is important because it allows consumers to make an informed choice. While it may be easy to understand what has to be mentioned on the label it is also equally important to know what is not permitted on labels. Food Business Operators need to understand that any statement, design or claim on labels that turns out to be false could lead to penalization so they must be sure that the information on labels is correct. Accordingly FSSAI in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011has also laid down the restrictions on product labels that are to be followed by all food business operators dealing with packaged foods.
Restrictions on product labels
- Labels on the products shall carry no reference to the FSS Act or FSSAI regulations that seek to qualify, modify or contradict it in any manner and which could be misunderstood whether it is directly or by implication or explanation.
- Labels cannot mention that the product has been recommended, prescribed or approved by any person in the medical profession or that the product can be used for medical purposes cannot be suggested on the label.
- Unauthorised use of words like the following are not permitted to be mentioned on the label like.
- Words that show that the food product is an “imitation” or a “substitute” for another product cannot be mentioned on the labels or in any statement attached to the product. Such words are permitted for use only for those foods that are mentioned in the regulations and the words have been permitted for using.
- Any fruit syrup, fruit juice, fruit squash, fruit beverages, cordial, crush or any other fruit products cannot be described according to these names unless these products contain the permitted levels that standardizes them according to regulations.
- The label on food products cannot contain words or pictures that imply or give the wrong impression to the consumer that the product contains the specified amount of fruit. If the fruit is not used in the product then it has to be clearly mentioned on the label ADDED (NAME OF THE FRUIT) FLAVOUR or it will be seen as deceiving or misleading the consumer.
- If a product does not contain the fruit it cannot be described as a fruit product on the label if it contains only fruit flavours even if they are natural or they are natural flavouring substances or nature identical flavouring substances, artificial flavouring substances as single fruit flavour or a combination of fruit flavours. The label in this case also shall mention the product as ADDED (NAME OF FRUIT) FLAVOUR.
- Carbonated water that does not contain fruit juice or fruit pulp cannot have a label that misleads the consumer into believing that this is a fruit product.
- If a fruit or vegetable product is fortified with Vitamin C than it has to contain 40mgms of ascorbic acid per 100 gm. of the product or it cannot be mentioned that it is fortified with Vitamin C.
- The word “PURE” or any other words that imply purity cannot be mentioned on the label if it is an imitation of the product.
Drinking water label prohibitions for packaged and mineral water
- The labels cannot claim that the water has medicinal, preventive, curative or alleviative effects or that it has any other beneficial effects on the health of the consumer.
- The name of any locality, place or village may not be part of the trade name unless the packaged water has physically been collected in the place mentioned.
- No picture, graph or statement can be used on water that can confuse the public or mislead them about the nature, origin, composition or properties of the water in the package.
Restriction on advertisement
No food can be advertised in a manner that contradicts the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 or the rules and regulations written there under or which can mislead the public about the benefits or contents of the food.
Food Business Operators must ensure that all packaged food products are labelled in accordance with regulations and that they provide full information so that consumers can make informed choices. They must also keep in mind that any food product that has labels that promote sales by misleading or making tall claims can be termed as misbranding and misbranding invites heavy penalties.
sanofjoym says
Please suggest about imported Canola Oil Label .
whether it may write as ” Imported Canola Oil “or “Imported Refined Rapeseed Oil low erucic acid” or both – alike “Imported Refined Rapeseed Oil low erucic acid Canola Oil ”
Please enlighten.
FSH Team says
As per FSSAI guidelines on the labelling of Canola Oil, the labelling shall be be done in the following manner:
For solvent-extracted oil:
Imported Rapeseed – Low Erucic acid oil. Canola Oil
For refined vegetable oil:
Imported Refined Rapeseed – low erucic acid oil. Canola Oil.
sowjanya says
Imported Refined Rapeseed – low erucic acid oil. Canola Oil
cant we name it as imported refined canola oil when we are using as a ingredient in a product
FSH Team says
As per the FSSAI guidelines you can not name it as imported.
Amandeep says
Hello,,,
Please tell if it is mandatory to write customer care number on food label, I have written email address for communication, so it would be okay to just write e-mail id or the phone number will also be necessary.
Thanks.
FSH Team says
Yes, As per guidelines it is mandatory to mention customer care number on the food label.
Shivani Gupta says
How to define veg.& non veg. in restaurant’s menu.Is there any special guideline for this?
FSH Team says
Already there are specific guidelines for how to prepare, handle and serve veg and non-veg food.
Sandeep Matne says
Please Suggest me Organic fresh produce labeling requirements
ZEESHAN TAHIR says
Can a manufacturer use a Bar code to depict all the information of the packaged product instead of printing each required information?
Dr. Saurabh Arora says
No, you have to print.even the font size is prescribed.
Anil says
Please Suggest.
Parachute write 100% Pure Coconut oil is it ok as per fssai norms .
FSH Team says
Read through the following link for information – http://foodsafetyhelpline.com/fssai-revises-and-operationalises-the-advertising-and-claims-regulation/
Subhadra says
In the entire act only quantity of fruit is discussed. In case of products containing distillates, concentrates and active ingredients how to meet the quantity restrictions whereas these products contain 100% natural ingredients but only 2 to 10% being concentrated active ingredients.
If rose syrup is made from distillate (अर्क ) rose, it may contain only 10% of total volume. If you add artificial flavor, mention this fact on label and print rose picture the product is declared “misbrand”. ?
Khawar Ishaq says
Can a manufacturers of biscuit print “pure” on product labelling,such as “pure cholocate” or “Pure milk”
FSH Team says
You can read through the following link for the information – http://foodsafetyhelpline.com/fssai-revises-and-operationalises-the-advertising-and-claims-regulation/
Anand Agarwal says
Kindly suggest what guidelines I follow to pach Refined sugar from bulk 50 kg pack to 1kg pack in our own brand. What will be necessary permission I need to take from government .
Arun says
How to label imported Rock salt powder?
FSH Team says
You can get the labelling information from the following link – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Packaging_Labelling_Regulations_22_01_2019.pdf
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Pawan Solanki says
I have started packaging of pulses. What are the important contents I need to mention on the label. I have started at very ground level. But I want to grow it to large scale.
Please suggest what are the required licenses, marks, certification and content for the label.
At present I am just printing my Logo, nothing else.
FSH Team says
You can go through the following url for information regarding licensing – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Licensing_Regulations.pdf
For packaging and labelling – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Packaging_Labelling_Regulations_22_01_2019.pdf
Manjunath S says
What is the Minimum label size to be used on pouches of size 200 mm x 200mm
FSH Team says
You can read through the following link – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Packaging_Labelling_Regulations_22_01_2019.pdf
Paresh Pandya says
We are manufacturing Almomd & cashew nut toffee bar.
1) As per FSSAi min. require % of nuts in product to print the photograph of nuts & claim for nutrition values
Mohan Natraj says
Hi
i am importing fruit juices,and i had applied fssai lic. WIth out print the fssai no can i print the brand labe. pls suggest…tx
FSH Team says
The FSSAI Logo and License number is mandatory to be given on the label of the food product, if you are not doing any further processing in the imported food product then you can give FSSAI Logo, FSSAI License No, Name & Address of the importer and VEG and Non-VEG logo on a sticker rest all information on the label has to be printed on the label.
Shashank Aggarwal says
Where can we find the complete list of requirements on the label? The must have information and other prescriptions like fonts, colors and design..
FSH Team says
You can read through the following link – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Packaging_Labelling_Regulations_22_01_2019.pdf
Anand Gupta says
Hi,
I am planning to manufacturing energy bites with ingredients like Almond, cashew, chocolate powder, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, vinella essence, dried blue berries, cranberries.
What are the requirements for labelling as per FSSAI guidelines
FSH Team says
You can read through the given link – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Packaging_Labelling_Regulations_22_01_2019.pdf
Ami Patel says
what should be declare or can you provide me nutrition fact format as per Indian law ( FSSAI Basic requirement )
Dr. Dipan Chatterjee says
What will be the food category labelling for Jaljeera powder?
FSH Team says
You can find it through Food Additive regulations in the given url – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Food_Additives_Regulations_29_03_2019.pdf
Laxman says
Added flavour to juice contains preservatives.
Do we need to mention on labelling that it’s added preservatives ?
FSH Team says
You can read through the link – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Packaging_Labelling_Regulations_22_01_2019.pdf
Meena Sharma says
Is it mandatory to mention the target consumer group on nutraceutucal and health supplement as per current fssai regulation
FSH Team says
Yes, As per FSSAI guidelines it is mandatory to specify the target consumer group.
Nilambari Daripkar says
Can we stick the Label instead of printing it on the Food packing container, having all the requisite information. Is it allowed as per FSSAI rules ?
FSH Team says
Read through the following url for information regarding packaging and labelling – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Packaging_Labelling_Regulations_22_01_2019.pdf