Nestlé has urged India to consult food manufacturers while developing front-of-pack health labelling rules, as the country continues to debate warning labels for packaged foods high in sugar, salt and fat.
India’s debate over front-of-pack warning labels has gained renewed attention after Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil said that food companies should have a voice in the development of the rules.
According to Reuters reporting, Nestlé supports front-of-pack labelling for products containing high levels of sugar, salt and fat, but believes manufacturers should be consulted to help ensure that the framework is based on scientific evidence.
What Is Being Proposed?
Front-of-pack labelling is intended to give consumers prominent nutritional information directly on the front of a food package. Such systems can help consumers identify products with high levels of nutrients such as sugar, salt and fat without having to interpret detailed nutritional panels.
India has been considering stronger front-of-pack health warnings, while the issue has also attracted attention from the Supreme Court following petitions concerning delays in introducing such measures.
Why It Matters for Packaging
The development of front-of-pack warning rules could have a direct impact on packaging design, artwork and regulatory compliance.
Food manufacturers may need to consider:
- Placement and size of front-of-pack declarations
- Changes to existing packaging artwork
- Space allocation on small-format packs
- Printing and colour specifications
- Regulatory approval and artwork change management
- Adaptation of packaging across different product categories
- Consumer visibility and readability of nutritional information
For packaging teams, regulatory changes can translate into significant artwork revisions across multiple SKUs, packaging formats and markets.
Industry and Public-Health Perspectives
Nestlé's position is that manufacturers should participate in the consultation process and that the labelling framework should be scientifically developed.
Health advocates, however, have expressed a different view, arguing that food companies should not have a role in determining public-health labelling standards. These competing positions are part of the continuing policy debate around India's front-of-pack labelling framework.
Meanwhile, FSSAI continues to publish draft amendments and regulatory proposals covering food, labelling and packaging. Its 2026 notifications include proposed changes related to labelling regulations and packaging regulations.
The discussion highlights how food packaging is increasingly becoming a regulatory communication tool, rather than simply a means of protecting and presenting a product.
If front-of-pack warning requirements are introduced or revised in India, brands and packaging suppliers will need to prepare for changes in pack artwork, print specifications, regulatory review and SKU management.
For packaging professionals, monitoring regulatory developments early can help reduce the disruption associated with last-minute artwork and packaging changes.