FSSAI Proposes Ban on Added Sugar in Baby Food for Infants Below Six Months; Public Feedback Invited
FSSAI has proposed banning added sucrose and fructose in food products intended for infants up to six months old. The draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, was published on October 16, with stakeholders given 60 days to submit objections and suggestions. The proposal aims to strengthen infant nutrition standards but has not yet become legally enforceable.
New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed banning the addition of sucrose and fructose to food products intended for infants up to six months old. The move aims to strengthen infant nutrition standards and reduce unnecessary added sugars during the earliest stage of a child's development.
The proposal forms part of the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on October 16. The food regulator has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders before finalising the proposed changes.
What Has FSSAI Proposed?
Under the proposed amendment, manufacturers would no longer be permitted to add sucrose or fructose to infant nutrition products specifically intended for babies up to six months of age.
Currently, India's infant nutrition regulations allow these sugars to be used as carbohydrate sources under certain conditions and within prescribed limits.
Existing regulations identify lactose and glucose polymers as preferred carbohydrate sources while permitting sucrose and fructose in specific circumstances.
The proposed amendment would introduce stricter requirements for products intended for the youngest infants.
Importantly, the restriction is still a proposal and has not yet become law.
Why Is FSSAI Planning Stricter Rules for Baby Food?
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the first six months of life are a crucial period for physical growth and development.
Appropriate nutrition during this stage plays an important role in supporting healthy development.
The proposed restrictions aim to ensure that infant nutrition products meet nutritional requirements without containing unnecessary added sucrose or fructose.
The regulator's approach reflects a growing emphasis on improving food standards for vulnerable age groups, particularly infants.
How Will the Proposed Rules Affect Baby Food Manufacturers?
If the amendment is finalised, companies manufacturing infant nutrition products for babies up to six months old will need to ensure that their formulations comply with the new restrictions.
Manufacturers currently using added sucrose or fructose in affected products may need to review their ingredients and reformulate products where necessary.
The changes could also require companies to reassess their product labels and nutritional information to ensure compliance with the final regulations.
However, the precise compliance requirements will depend on the final notification issued by FSSAI.
Public Given 60 Days to Submit Suggestions
FSSAI has opened a public consultation period of 60 days following publication of the draft regulations.
Food manufacturers, nutrition experts, healthcare professionals, consumer organisations and other stakeholders can submit their objections and recommendations.
The authority will examine the feedback before deciding whether to adopt, revise or otherwise proceed with the proposed amendment.
Until the final regulations are notified, the existing rules will continue to apply.
Growing Focus on Reducing Added Sugar in Packaged Foods
The proposal comes amid wider public health concerns about unhealthy dietary habits, rising obesity rates and the long-term effects of excessive sugar consumption.
Food regulators and health authorities are increasingly examining how packaged food products are formulated and how nutritional information is communicated to consumers.
Discussions about stronger food labelling requirements and clearer nutritional disclosures are also part of broader efforts to help consumers make informed dietary choices.
However, the current FSSAI proposal specifically concerns sucrose and fructose added to infant nutrition products for babies up to six months old.
It does not prohibit these sugars in all packaged foods or automatically extend the restriction to products intended for older children.
What Happens Next?
The proposed amendment will undergo public consultation before FSSAI makes a final decision.
If approved, the changes would establish stricter ingredient standards for infant nutrition products during the first six months of life.
For now, the regulator's proposal signals a move towards tighter oversight of added sugars in food products intended for very young infants.