Parliamentary Panel Demands Strict Limits On Infant Food Sugar

The Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution presented a comprehensive report in Parliament calling for strict regulation of sugar content in infant food products across India. The parliamentary panel highlighted widespread public concerns regarding elevated sugar levels in commercial baby foods, which families typically rely on as nutritional supplements to breast milk. To safeguard child health and ensure strict quality control, the committee directed the government to grant priority enforcement status to infant food products. Furthermore, the panel recommended establishing a mandatory minimum threshold for annual sampling and regulatory inspections reserved exclusively for this sensitive food segment.

The parliamentary committee expressed deep dismay over ongoing delays in finalizing and enforcing Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling regulations across the country. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India initially notified draft front-of-pack nutrition labelling norms on September 13, 2022, to inform consumers about hidden ingredients like added sugar. However, the policy remains unfinalized after generating more than 14,000 comments from industry stakeholders and public experts. The panel directed the food regulator to expedite the consultation process and formally notify the binding labelling rules within a strict, time-bound schedule.

To maintain continuous oversight, the committee recommended conducting regular scientific reviews of permitted sugar thresholds in infant nutritional products. Re-evaluating these permissible limits will help realign domestic standards with international best practices and protect infants from metabolic health risks. For Indian households, these regulatory measures promise greater transparency on packaged food labels and stricter quality monitoring in local markets. Enforcing periodic lab testing and clear nutritional disclosures will force food manufacturers to reformulate baby food recipes and eliminate unnecessary added sugars.