**Executive Summary**
This document outlines measures taken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to raise public awareness regarding Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) and ensure food safety standards. It emphasizes FSSAI's mandate to set science-based food standards and conduct nationwide surveillance, monitoring, and random sampling to ensure compliance. The information was posted on 13 FEB 2026, and includes information on FSSAI's activities and regulations as well as remarks from the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **FSSAI Mandate and Responsibilities:**
* FSSAI is mandated to establish science-based standards for food articles.
* FSSAI regulates the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food to ensure safe and wholesome food availability.
* The implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, is a shared responsibility between Central and State Governments.
* **Awareness Campaigns:**
* "Aaj se Thoda Kam" campaign addresses the adverse effects of consuming foods high in fat, salt, and sugar, encouraging gradual dietary modifications.
* "Har Label Kuch Kehta Hai" campaign promotes food safety consciousness and healthy eating habits, focusing on understanding food labels for informed choices.
* **Regulations and Enforcement:**
* The Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, lay down provisions for pre-packaged food labeling.
* The Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020, outline school authorities' responsibilities for safe and nutritious food in and around school campuses.
* Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling are conducted by State/UT Food Safety Departments to ensure compliance with quality and safety parameters under the FSS Act, 2006.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Consumers**
* **Impact:** Increased awareness about the nutritional content of food products, particularly regarding fat, salt, and sugar content.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available information on food labels to make informed dietary choices and gradually reduce intake of unhealthy components.
**Stakeholder: School Authorities**
* **Impact:** Responsibilities defined to ensure the availability of safe and nutritious food on school premises.
* **Action Required:** Comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020, and promote balanced diets.
**Stakeholder: Food Manufacturers**
* **Impact:** Must adhere to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, for pre-packaged foods.
* **Action Required:** Ensure accurate and comprehensive labeling of products as per regulations.
**Stakeholder: State/UT Food Safety Departments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring compliance with food safety standards and regulations.
* **Action Required:** Conduct regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): The primary regulator mandated to set science-based standards for articles of food and ensure safe and wholesome food availability.
Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006: The act which empowers FSSAI and outlines the regulatory framework for food safety and standards.
Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020: Regulations established by FSSAI that provides comprehensive provisions regarding the labeling of pre-packaged foods.
Eat Right India: A nation-wide movement launched by FSSAI to promote food safety consciousness and healthy eating habits across India.
Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020: Regulations established by FSSAI outlining responsibilities for school authorities to ensure safe and nutritious food in schools.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Measures taken to raise public awareness for
UPFs
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Mandated to
Set Science-Based Food Standards
Regular Surveillance, Monitoring and Random Sampling
Conducted Nationwide to Ensure Compliance with Food
Safety Standards
Posted On: 13 FEB 2026 1:36PM by PIB Delhi
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science-based standards
for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure
availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The implementation and enforcement of
the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 is a shared responsibility between the Central and State
Governments.
FSSAI has undertaken awareness measure called 'Aaj se Thoda Kam' to address the adverse effects of
consuming foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. It encourages consumers to gradually reduce their intake of
fat, salt, and sugar through dietary modifications.
FSSAI has also undertaken awareness campaign "Har Label Kuch Kehta Hai" under the ‘Eat Right India’
movement on social media to promote food safety consciousness and healthy eating habits across India.
This awareness campaign focuses on empowering consumers to make informed dietary choices by
enhancing their understanding of food labels. Food labels contain crucial information about a product's
nutritional value, ingredients, and potential allergens.
FSSAI has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, which lay
down comprehensive provisions relating to the labelling of pre-packaged foods. Further, FSSAI has also
notified the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School)
Regulations, 2020 outlining the responsibilities of school authorities to ensure the availability of safe and
nutritious food on school premises while also promoting balanced diets in and around school campuses.
FSSAI is fully committed to ensure the availability of safe food products to the consumers across the
country. Towards this, regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of various food
products are conducted throughout the year by the officials of Food Safety Departments of the respective
States/ UTs to check compliance with the quality and safety parameters and other requirements as laid
down under FSS Act, 2006, rules & regulations made there under.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri. Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written
reply in the Lok Sabha today.****
SR
HFW/ Measures taken to raise public awareness for UPFs/13 February 2026/3
(Release ID: 2227420) Visitor Counter : 121
Read this release in: Urdu , ही