Reading-the-Label-Rethinking-Packaged-Food-Quality-in-India

Reading-the-Label-Rethinking-Packaged-Food-Quality-in-India

Author- Divya Jain, Course- BBA Financial and Marketing Analytics, Institution- Christ University, Delhi NCR , Aug-31-2026

INTRODUCTION

Walk into any supermarket in India, and you will see products labelled “healthy,” “natural,” “pure,” or “made with quality ingredients.” But how much of what we see on the front of a packet tells us what is inside?

India’s packaged food industry is growing rapidly. With busy lifestyles, urbanization and changing eating habits, packaged food has become a normal part of everyday life. But this growth also raises an important question: are companies focusing on producing better food, or simply cheaper food?

 

The growth of the packaged food industry connects directly with Sustainable Development Goal 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production. It is about producing and consuming products in a way that uses resources responsibly and reduces unnecessary harm.

However, when companies try to keep products affordable, quality can sometimes become the easiest thing to compromise. Cheaper ingredients may replace better ones, sugar and salt can be used to improve taste at low cost, and preservatives keep products on shelves for longer.

These practices are not considered illegal, which makes this issue much more complicated. A product can technically meet the required standards while still raising questions about its nutritional quality, transparency or overall value to consumers.

 

In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulates food safety and standards. It sets rules for food products, licensing, safety limits and labelling.

The problem is not necessarily the absence of rules. It is the gap between having regulations and enforcing them consistently.

A few problems are particularly important

• Limited testing: India has an enormous number of food products and manufacturers, making regular testing and inspection difficult.
• Confusing marketing: Words such as “natural,” “healthy,” or “immunity-boosting” can create a healthier impression, but the food packaging companies add in much smaller font that the word is only used for advertising.
• Low consumer awareness: Many people look at the front of a packet but do not check the ingredient list or nutrition table.
• Reactive enforcement: In some cases, problems receive attention only after complaints, investigations or public pressure.

This does not mean that every packaged food product is unsafe or that every company is misleading consumers. The larger issue is that consumers should not have to become food experts just to understand what they are buying.

Responsible production does not mean eliminating packaged food or going back to traditional methods of production. It means making the manufacturing process more transparent and responsible.

Some companies are already responding to increasing consumer awareness, but this needs to become more common across the industry.

Consumers Also Have a Role

Regulation alone cannot solve the problem. Consumers have considerable influence through what they choose to buy.

A simple habit can make a difference: turn the packet around.

Instead of looking only at the front of the package, consumers should check:

1. The ingredient list.
2. The amount of added sugar, salt and fat.
3. The order in which ingredients are listed.
4. Serving size and actual nutritional values.
5. Claims such as “natural,” “sugar-free,” or “healthy.”

This does not mean being afraid of every additive or avoiding packaged food completely. It simply means deciding based on information rather than advertising.

From Cheap Production to Responsible Production

SDG 12 is ultimately about changing the way we think about both production and consumption. Manufacturers need to take greater responsibility for the quality of their products. Regulators need to ensure that existing standards are properly enforced. Consumers need to become more aware of what they are purchasing.

The solution is not to blame one company or one institution. It is to raise the standard expected by everyone involved.

A packet may look healthy because of its colors, claims and packaging. But the real story is usually written on the back.

Responsible consumption can start with something as simple as reading the label before putting the product in the shopping cart.