Food industry representatives in India have urged authorities to reconsider the use of red warning labels on packaged food products, citing potential confusion among consumers due to established food color coding practices. The All India Food Processors Association (AIFPA), which includes major domestic and international manufacturers, submitted their concerns to the Supreme Court on September 24.

India is currently intensifying efforts to improve food safety standards nationwide, including extensive inspections of eateries and increased regulatory oversight. As part of these reforms, the food regulator has proposed a front-of-pack labeling system that would use red hexagon-shaped symbols to warn consumers about high levels of salt, sugar, or fat in packaged foods. This initiative comes after extensive public debate highlighting the absence of such warning labels in the country.

However, AIFPA cautioned that the choice of red for these warning labels could be problematic. The association noted that Indian consumers traditionally associate the color red with mandatory markings identifying non-vegetarian ingredients. Introducing another prominent red symbol on food packaging, they argued, might lead to consumer misunderstanding.

While the group expressed support for front-of-pack warning labels in principle, it called for the establishment of scientifically grounded thresholds to determine when warnings should be applied. The association opposed the current regulatory approach, which it described as involving “indiscriminate application” of threshold levels for salt, sugar, and fat.

The debate reflects a broader tension between government efforts to enhance transparency and consumer safety and the food industry’s concerns over clear, culturally appropriate communication on packaging. The food regulatory body has not yet commented publicly on the feedback but is expected to consider industry input as it finalizes the labeling regulations.