Last Updated:July 08, 2025, 10:13 IST
India doesn’t need to cancel packaged food, it needs smarter regulations and clearer labels.
Let’s stop demonising packaged food and start demanding better policies that prioritise both health and innovation.
In the rising chorus of health-conscious voices across India, one message rings loud and clear: Read the label. From trans fats to added sugars and artificial additives, Indian consumers are becoming more mindful of what’s in their food. Social media, wellness influencers, and nutrition experts are decoding ingredient lists, calling out misleading claims, and shedding light on how brands often use tactical packaging and “health halos” to nudge consumer choices—while masking the truth about their ingredients.
This consumer vigilance is long overdue and certainly commendable. However, as scrutiny of packaged food intensifies, we risk reducing the conversation to a simplistic binary: good vs. bad, clean vs. toxic, homemade vs. processed. In doing so, we may end up vilifying brands rather than addressing the root problem, a food policy framework that still allows room for ambiguity and misleading messaging.
The issue isn’t packaging: It’s policy
“Packaged food isn’t the enemy,” says Shenaz Sayed, Communication Professional and Policy Enthusiast. “It’s a vital pillar of India’s food economy, supporting millions across agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, retail, and marketing.”
According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the country’s food processing industry is projected to reach $535 billion by 2025–26, with packaged food making up a significant share. The challenge, therefore, lies in balancing consumer health with economic growth—not in creating polarised narratives.
While India’s food regulation system has improved over the past decade, thanks to measures by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) such as front-of-pack labelling norms and trans fat limits, enforcement remains patchy, and critical information is often buried in fine print. For example, “no added sugar” labels may still hide the presence of fruit concentrates or artificial sweeteners that impact the body similarly to refined sugar.
The solution? Reform, not rejection.
Instead of condemning brands, we must encourage and incentivise those taking active steps toward healthier formulations—whether it’s reducing sodium, eliminating synthetic preservatives, or shifting to clean-label ingredients. Encouragingly, several Indian brands—both legacy and emerging—are already moving in this direction with millet-based snacks, roasted seeds, baked alternatives, and plant-based proteins entering the mainstream.
For sustained change, public policy must evolve in three key ways:
Clear, front-of-pack labelling: Simple, readable symbols or colour codes that quickly communicate health markers—not just complex nutritional tables in tiny font.
Incentives for responsible brands: Tax breaks, marketing support, or visibility platforms for companies that demonstrate a genuine commitment to health—especially those using local ingredients or supporting farmer networks.
Public-private awareness campaigns: Co-created education initiatives that empower families to make informed decisions—by understanding serving sizes, sugar substitutes, and how processed foods fit into modern urban lifestyles.
Rising income levels and fast-paced lives mean packaged food isn’t going away. The goal shouldn’t be to eliminate it but to transform it. If we continue to frame it as the antithesis of well-being, we risk stalling innovation and alienating an industry that can, with the right nudges, be part of the solution.
Yes, consumers must continue to question and demand transparency from brands. But greater accountability lies with policy: Are we building systems that drive better health outcomes without economic harm? Are we encouraging progress, or silencing potential?
The future of food in India depends on this balance.
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More
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