The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed amendments to its food safety regulations specifically for infant nutrition. On Friday, FSSAI released a draft of the Food Safety and Standards (Infant Nutrition Food) Amendment Regulation, 2026, which aims to limit sugar content in baby foods meant for infants up to six months old by banning the addition of sucrose and fructose. This move is designed to reinforce the nutritional quality standards of baby foods during a critical period of infant growth.
What Changes Are Being Proposed?
Currently, the primary carbohydrate sources recommended for baby foods include lactose and glucose polymers. However, the existing rules allow manufacturers to add sucrose and/or fructose as carbohydrates within specified limits if necessary. The draft amendment suggests removing this exemption for products designed for infants up to six months. If approved, manufacturers will no longer be permitted to include sucrose or fructose in baby foods formulated for this age group, ensuring these sugars are excluded from early infancy diets.
The restriction reflects growing concerns about unnecessary sugar intake in the first months of life. By banning these sugars, FSSAI seeks to encourage the production of baby foods that meet infants’ nutritional needs without adding sweeteners that offer no health benefits at this sensitive development stage.
Rationale Behind the Amendment
FSSAI highlighted that the first six months of an infant’s life are crucial for growth and development, requiring optimal nutrition. The proposed changes aim to ensure products for this age group provide adequate nourishment without added sucrose and fructose, which are unnecessary in such early nutrition. This aligns with wider public health initiatives to minimize infants’ exposure to excess sugar, addressing potential risks like childhood obesity and related health issues linked to early dietary patterns.
The amendment supports global health recommendations that urge exclusive breastfeeding and limited sugar exposure during infancy. By regulating baby food compositions more strictly, regulators intend to back the nutritional needs of infants and reduce the risk factors stemming from excessive sugar consumption at an early age.
Further, these revisions complement existing guidelines advocating exclusive breastfeeding for six months, providing a consistent message about infant diet quality. The amendment underscores the role of regulatory frameworks in promoting food products that specifically address infants’ dietary requirements from birth until 24 months.
Next Steps and Stakeholder Involvement
With the draft amendment now published, FSSAI is inviting public feedback and suggestions from stakeholders within 60 days of the official Gazette notification. The food regulator plans to review all comments before finalizing the rule to ensure the amendment is practical and achieves its intended health outcomes effectively.
This proposed regulatory update exemplifies FSSAI’s commitment to advancing science-based food safety standards and promoting responsible manufacturing practices. It also reflects a focused effort to protect infant nutrition and health from the earliest stages of life by tackling nutritional risks posed by added sugars.
Since 2008, reporting extensively on markets and economy, the author brings experience from major Indian news organizations including TV9, DNA, Asianet, Jansatta, Dainik Jagran, and Rajasthan Patrika.
