FSSAI proposes ban on added sugar in baby formula for infants under six months of age | Today’s news
NEW DELHI: India’s food safety regulator has proposed banning the addition of sucrose and fructose to infant formula for babies under six months, tightening rules on added sugars in the $1.16 billion market.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed restrictions in the proposed amendment to the Infant Formula Regulations, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday. This step seeks to limit early exposure to added sugars during a critical phase of growth and development.
The proposal follows the April 2024 controversy sparked by an international Swiss investigation that found Nestlé had added sugar to Cerelac sold in India, while offering a sugar-free version in Europe.
The proposed rules could have significant implications for India’s expanding baby food industry, which MarkNtel Advisors valued at $1.16 billion in 2024 and projects it will reach $1.98 billion by 2030. Mint had earlier announced the government’s plan on March 6.
Tighter limits
The draft Food Safety and Standards (Food for Infant Nutrition) Regulations 2026 was gazetted on October 16, the Department of Health said.
The proposed amendment aims to “further strengthen the existing regulatory framework by ensuring that infant formula products are formulated in accordance with age-appropriate nutritional requirements, with particular emphasis on minimizing exposure to added sugars in the earliest stages of life,” the ministry said.
The current regulations apply to baby food products for children from birth to 24 months. They specify lactose and glucose polymers as the preferred carbohydrate sources, while allowing sucrose and fructose if desired as carbohydrate sources, subject to prescribed limits.
The proposal would abolish this allowance for products intended for the youngest age group. According to the proposed amendment, “sucrose and fructose may not be added to products intended for infants under 6 months of age,” the ministry said.
Health concerns
The ministry said the restriction is intended to protect infants during a critical developmental period. “The first six months of life are a critical period for healthy growth and development, which is why appropriate nutrition is especially important,” he said.
The goal of the proposal is to ensure that the products meet the nutritional needs of infants without the unnecessary addition of sucrose and fructose. It also addresses concerns about early sugar intake, “including dietary risk factors associated with childhood obesity and related health problems,” the ministry said.
The initiative complements public health recommendations on infant feeding, including exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. The ministry said the proposal would promote appropriate feeding practices while “encouraging manufacturers to adopt formulations that favor the specific nutritional requirements of young infants”.
FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders on the proposal within 60 days of making copies of the gazette notification available to the public.
Before announcing final regulations, the Authority will review objections received during this period.
