New Delhi, October 17: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed banning the addition of sucrose and fructose to food products meant for infants up to six months old.
The proposal is part of the draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on October 16. The draft states that “sucrose and fructose shall not be added in the products intended for infants up to the age of 6 months”.
What changes
The current regulations, framed in 2020, set nutrition, quality and safety standards for products meant for children from birth to 24 months. They name lactose and glucose polymers as the preferred carbohydrate sources, but allow sucrose and fructose to be added within limits when needed.
The amendment would remove that option for products aimed at babies in their first six months.
Why FSSAI wants the change
FSSAI said the first six months are a critical period for growth, and products for this age group should meet nutritional needs without unnecessary added sugars. The regulator said the measure supports wider public health efforts on early exposure to added sugar, including risk factors linked to childhood obesity.
It also said the proposal complements existing advice on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
Public comments
The draft is open for public consultation. Objections and suggestions can be sent within 60 days from the date copies of the Gazette are made available to the public, after which FSSAI will finalise the amendment.
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