NEW DELHI: Amid a growing debate over the quality of packaged foods and action being taken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Nestlé has backed greater transparency in food labelling but said any front-of-pack kabelling system should be scientifically robust and reflect the way consumers actually eat food.
Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestlé SA, said in a media interaction here that consumers should be encouraged to be curious about what they eat and make informed choices.
“We welcome transparency,” Navratil said, adding that consumers should be encouraged to be curious about what they eat and make informed choices. The company, however, said nutritional comparisons should be based on appropriate serving portions and local consumption patterns, rather than simply comparing products gram-for-gram.
“Consumers eat portions, not grams,” Navratil said. The company argued that the labelling framework should take into account what consumers actually consume and the way products are used as part of a meal.
This is particularly important in India, where packaged foods are often consumed alongside other foods rather than necessarily as standalone products, Navratil said.
Nestlé already provides nutritional information on its packs in India, including calories and recommended dietary allowance, even where such disclosures are not mandatory.
“If regulation introduces front-of-pack labelling in different forms, we welcome it,” Navratil said, adding that Nestlé had been working to improve products on parameters such as sugar, fat and sodium.
However, the company cautioned that any new system “has to be done the right way” and be scientifically sound. Navratil said a gram-based comparison could sometimes be misleading because some products are consumed in different quantities or are used as ingredients in very small amounts. “You cannot compare them if you don’t have the right portion guidance,” he said.
Nestlé also said it would be willing to work with the government if invited to contribute to the development of food-labelling standards. “We will definitely collaborate if we are asked to do so,” Navratil said, adding that the company could share its experience from other markets, including Latin American countries that have introduced front-of-pack measures and, in some cases, sugar taxes.
“There are learnings from that that we can happily share,” Navratil said. Nestlé’s comments come at a time when food safety, nutritional standards and the quality of packaged foods have come under increasing scrutiny in India, with FSSAI intensifying inspections and enforcement, issuing advisories and reviewing compliance requirements while consumer awareness around ingredients and nutritional content rises.
The company said greater transparency would help consumers understand what they eat, compare products and make better choices for themselves and their families.
Nestlé said it is also working to improve the nutritional profile of its products by reducing sugar, salt and saturated fat while maintaining taste. “We believe we have the science and technology to meet growing demand for healthier options,” Navratil said.
The company said it offers products with enhanced nutritional profiles alongside conventional products, giving consumers greater choice.
While supporting greater transparency, Nestlé’s position is that India’s food-labelling framework should combine scientific evidence with real-world consumption patterns and local tastes, so that nutritional information is meaningful to consumers rather than simply a technical comparison of products by weight.
