How to read food labels

Name of the food and ingredients

The label must carry the true name of the food on the front of pack. Where the food has an identity fixed by a food standard, that name must be used; otherwise a common or usual name, or a description of the food's true nature, is required. A brand or fanciful name may be added alongside, subject to the advertising and claims rules.

Except for single-ingredient foods, a list of ingredients is mandatory, in descending order by weight at the time of manufacture, under an appropriate heading such as 'Ingredients'. Added water must be declared, with limited exceptions.

Veg / non-veg declaration

Non-vegetarian food must carry a brown-coloured filled triangle inside a square with a brown outline. Vegetarian food must carry a green-coloured filled circle inside a square with a green outline. Both the symbol and a written declaration must be shown prominently on the front of pack, close to the brand name.

FSSAI logo and licence number

The FSSAI logo and the 14-digit licence or registration number must be displayed on the label in a colour that contrasts with the background. For the brand owner's own licence number, and separately for the manufacturer, marketer, packer or bottler's number if different, both must appear.

Licence numbers start with '1'; registration numbers (small/petty food businesses) start with '2', per FSSAI's own FAQs.

It is also mandatory to show the 14-digit FSSAI number on cash receipts, invoices and bills issued by food businesses on sale of food products.

Date marking

The label must declare the date of manufacture or packaging, and the expiry or 'use by' date; 'best before' may additionally be shown. These two groups of dates must be placed together at one place on the label.

'Best before' marks the end of the period during which the food stays fully marketable and keeps its claimed qualities; the food may remain safe after that date, though quality may have reduced, but it must never be sold once it actually becomes unsafe.

'Use by'/'expiry' marks the date after which the food may no longer be safe, and it must not be sold or distributed after that date.

A short list of items is exempt from a mandatory expiry declaration, including fresh unpeeled fruit and vegetables, wines, alcoholic beverages of 10% ABV or more, vinegar, boiled sugar confectionery, industrial food-grade salt, solid sugars, and chewing/bubble gum.

Batch, lot or code number

Every package must declare a batch, lot or code number so the product can be traced through manufacture and distribution.

Nutritional information

Packaged food must show nutritional information, generally per 100g/100ml or per serving, under the 2020 Regulations (Chapter 2), with some exemptions for minimally processed single-ingredient foods.

Allergen declaration

Foods and ingredients known to cause allergy must be declared separately as 'Contains...'. The list under the 2020 Regulations covers: cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and their hybrids, with narrow technical exceptions); crustaceans; milk; eggs; fish; peanuts and tree nuts; soybeans; and sulphite at 10 mg/kg or more. Cross-contamination may be declared as 'May contain...'. Raw agricultural commodities, and oils/distilled alcoholic beverages derived from these ingredients, are exempt from this declaration in defined circumstances.

Net quantity, MRP and consumer care

Net quantity, retail sale price and consumer-care details are governed by the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and its packaged-commodity rules, referenced directly in the 2020 labelling Regulations.

Country of origin and imports

Imported food must declare its country of origin, and importers must display the FSSAI logo, licence number, and their own name and address, in addition to the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017.

Front-of-pack status (draft / proposed)

A separate, mandatory front-of-pack warning label for food high in sugar, salt or saturated fat has been under consideration by FSSAI; the current back-of-pack nutritional information requirement above is already mandatory. As of the time this guide was checked, FSSAI's front-of-pack warning proposal (a red hexagonal 'high in...' warning) was before the Supreme Court and had not been finalised or notified as a regulation. This page will be updated once FSSAI notifies a final regulation; until then, treat any such front-of-pack warning scheme as a draft/proposal, not a legal requirement.