Delhi HC issues notice on plea seeking India-specific study on artificial sweeteners; seeks Centre, FSSAI response
New Delhi, July 28
The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a petition seeking a comprehensive India-specific scientific evaluation of the long-term health effects of non-sugar sweeteners and artificial sweeteners, while calling for responses from the Centre and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
The Court directed the respondents to file their replies within two weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on September 29.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma passed the order after hearing the Indian Sugar and Bioenergy Manufacturers Association. The Court issued notice in the matter after taking note of the reliefs sought in the petition and granted time to the Union of India and FSSAI to place their stand on record.
The petitioner has sought directions to FSSAI to undertake and complete a comprehensive, independent and India-specific scientific assessment of the long-term health implications of non-sugar and artificial sweeteners.
According to the plea, the study should examine their impact on metabolic health, cardiovascular diseases, carcinogenicity, neurological health and long-term consumption patterns across different demographic groups in India.
The petition also seeks directions for issuance of public advisories and consumer awareness measures regarding prolonged consumption of such sweeteners, particularly for children, adolescents, pregnant women, diabetic individuals and other vulnerable groups.
Further, the plea seeks stricter regulation of packaging, labelling and marketing of products containing non-sugar sweeteners.
It urges that such products should not be portrayed as inherently "healthy", "safe", "diet" or beneficial substitutes for sugar without clear and equally prominent disclosure regarding the artificial sweeteners used.
The petitioner has also requested the Court to direct authorities to examine and take action against misleading advertising, branding and promotional claims relating to products containing artificial sweeteners.
It has sought strengthening of the regulatory framework by mandating prominent front-of-pack disclosure of the specific sweeteners used, along with appropriate warning statements to enable informed consumer choice.
As an interim measure, the petition seeks implementation of mandatory front-of-pack labelling and disclosure requirements for food and beverage products containing non-sugar sweeteners until the proposed scientific evaluation is completed.
It also seeks directions to ensure that claims such as "Sugar Free", "Zero Sugar", "No Added Sugar" and "Diet" are accompanied by clear disclosure of the presence of non-sugar sweeteners and applicable statutory cautionary information across labels, advertisements, e-commerce platforms and digital media.
The High Court directed the Union of India and FSSAI to file their counter affidavits within two weeks, with liberty to the petitioner to file a rejoinder thereafter. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on September 29.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good move by the HC. The way companies market "zero sugar" colas as healthy is quite misleading. Our desi jaggery and honey are often tarred as unhealthy while these chemical substitutes get a free pass. Let's have proper science, not just corporate propaganda. 👍
This is very welcome. My cousin is a nutritionist and she's always cautioned against these artificial sweeteners for children. The petition's focus on vulnerable groups like pregnant women and kids is spot on. Indian palate is diverse - we need India-specific data, not just WHO studies.
Here's a respectful critique though - while this petition is needed, I hope FSSAI doesn't go overboard. Many diabetics rely on these sweeteners as a harm reduction tool compared to actual sugar. Let's not create panic without evidence. Balanced regulation with clear labels is the way.
As someone who lost a relative to diabetes complications, I strongly support this. But let's also remember - replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners is still avoiding the root problem. We need to promote traditional Indian diets - less processed foods, more natural sweeteners in moderation.
Finally! I'm tired of seeing "sugar-free" labels on everything from biscuits to sweets without any honest disclosure. Our families consume these items daily. Let FSSAI do its job properly. And yes, bring back gur and shakkar - our ancestors knew better! 😊
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