**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 2857, addressed to the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, regarding Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs), Front-of-Pack Labelling (FoPL), and the Public Distribution System (PDS). The response provides information on FSSAI's regulations and initiatives concerning these areas. The question was slated to be answered on 17.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regulatory Mandate and Standards:**
* The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 mandates FSSAI to establish science-based standards for food articles and regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import.
* FSSAI has established quality and safety standards for various food products, aligning with international standards (Codex standards).
* **Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs):**
* The FSS Act, rules, and regulations do not define "Ultra-Processed Foods" (UPFs).
* These types of foods are regulated by FSSAI under existing rules and regulations.
* **Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL):**
* An Expert Committee report on Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) has been submitted to the Supreme Court of India, and the matter is subjudice.
* **Labelling Regulations:**
* Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 mandates the inclusion of nutritional information (salt, sugar, fat) on food labels.
* **Food Fortification:**
* FSSAI has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Food) Regulation, 2018, which prescribes standards for fortification of various staple foods, including rice, and applies uniformly across the country.
**Impact Analysis**
**Consumers**
* **Impact:** Consumers are affected by regulations aimed at ensuring food safety and providing nutritional information on labels.
* **Action Required:** Consumers can use the information provided on food labels to make informed choices about their diet.
**Food Manufacturers and Distributors**
* **Impact:** Food manufacturers and distributors are impacted by FSSAI regulations concerning food quality, safety, and labeling requirements.
* **Action Required:** Food manufacturers and distributors need to comply with FSSAI's regulations, including labeling requirements, to ensure the safety and quality of their products.
**Government (FSSAI)**
* **Impact:** FSSAI is responsible for implementing and enforcing the regulations related to food safety and standards.
* **Action Required:** FSSAI needs to continue monitoring and updating regulations to ensure food safety and provide consumers with the information needed to make informed choices.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): The primary regulator for food safety standards in India, responsible for defining and regulating Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs), as mentioned in the context of the questions.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The ministry responsible for answering questions related to food policies and regulations.
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: The main legislation mandating FSSAI to set food standards and regulate food safety.
Public Distribution System (PDS): A government program for distributing essential food items; the question pertains to including healthy alternatives within it.
Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020: Regulations mandating nutritional information on food labels.
Government of India
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Department of Consumer Affairs
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2857
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025
UPFS, FoPL and PDS
2857. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:
(a) the official definition of 'Ultra-Processed Foods' (UPFs);
(b) the status of FSSAI's initiatives to define and regulate UPFs including harmonization of standards for
identical products and current guidelines;
(c) the plan for Front-of-Pack Labelling (FoPL) and healthier PDS alternatives, with timelines;
(d) the recent public data does the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have on the
percentage contribution of UPFs to the average Indian's daily energy intake and the manner in which
this percentage changed during the last three years, State-wise;
(e) the details of specific healthy and non-processed food alternatives are included or planned to be
include in the Public Distribution System (PDS) basket for all States including Chhattisgarh; and
(f) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to address regulatory gaps such as varying
formulations and regional variations across the country including intersections with fortified PDS
items such as rice etc.?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI B.L.VERMA)
(a) to (f) : The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 mandates the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India (FSSAI) 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.
FSSAI has notified the quality and safety standards of various food products which are on par with
international standards (Codex standards, developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission). Further, FSS
Act, rules and regulations do not define the "Ultra-Processed Foods' (UPFs) but these type of foods are being
regulated by FSSAI under its existing rules and regulations thereof.
The report of an Expert Committee has been submitted on Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL)
to the Honourable Supreme Court of India and the matter is subjudice.
Further, Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 mandates the mention of
nutritional information on the labels w.r.t salt, sugar and fat for consumer to make informed choices while
selecting the food articles
FSSAI has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Food) Regulation, 2018 which
prescribes standards for fortification of various staple foods including rice and these standards are uniformly
applicable across the country.
****