FSSAI proposes fat, sugar and salt thresholds for school food sales
Synopsis
FSSAI has put hard numbers on what counts as 'too much' fat, sugar, and salt in school food — a first for India's school diet framework. The draft thresholds, anchored in ICMR's 2024 dietary guidelines, could reshape what packaged snacks and beverages are legally permitted on school premises nationwide.
Key Takeaways
FSSAI published a draft amendment in the Gazette of India on 11 August proposing quantitative thresholds for high-fat, high-sugar, and high-sodium foods in schools.
Solid foods with more than 4.2 g of added fat per 100 g , more than 3 g of added sugar per 100 g , or more than 0.625 g of salt per 100 g would be classified as high in those nutrients.
Separate, lower thresholds apply to liquid products : 1.5 g fat , 2 g sugar , and 0.175 g salt per 100 ml.
The benchmarks are drawn from the ICMR Dietary Guidelines for Indians-2024 .
Stakeholders and the public have 60 days from the gazette date to submit comments and objections.
The amendment proposes changes to the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020 .
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed quantitative thresholds to classify food products as high in added fat, added sugar, or sodium — a move aimed at tightening norms governing food sold to children in schools across India. The draft amendment was published in the Gazette of India on 11 August.
What the Draft Proposes
The proposed amendment seeks to insert new benchmarks into the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020. The thresholds are drawn from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)'s Dietary Guidelines for Indians-2024.
Under the draft, a solid food item will be classified as high in added fat if it contains more than 4.2 grams per 100 grams; for liquid products, the ceiling is 1.5 grams per 100 millilitres.
For added sugar, the proposed limits are more than 3 grams per 100 grams for solids and more than 2 grams per 100 millilitres for liquids.
Foods will be flagged as high in sodium if they contain more than 0.625 grams of salt per 100 grams for solid products and more than 0.175 grams per 100 millilitres for liquid products.
Regulatory Basis and Process
The draft regulations have been framed under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with prior approval of the Central government. The new provision, if finalised, will be inserted after the existing regulation on monitoring and surveillance in schools.
FSSAI has invited comments and objections from stakeholders and the general public. Submissions must be made within 60 days from the date the gazette notification is made available. The regulator has confirmed that all representations received within this window will be considered before the rules are finalised.
Why This Matters
India has seen a sharp rise in childhood obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases over the past decade, with school canteens and tuck shops frequently cited as key vectors for the sale of ultra-processed, high-calorie products. This proposal is the first attempt to attach precise numerical limits — rather than broad categorical restrictions — to the existing school food framework.
Notably, the ICMR's 2024 dietary guidelines, which underpin these thresholds, marked a significant shift in official nutritional thinking, explicitly warning against excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods. Anchoring school food regulation to these guidelines gives the proposed thresholds scientific credibility and signals alignment between public health research and regulatory action.
What Comes Next
With the public comment window open for 60 days, food manufacturers, school operators, and health advocacy groups are expected to weigh in. Industry bodies may push back on the fat and sugar thresholds, which are relatively stringent and could affect a wide range of packaged snacks and beverages commonly sold on school premises. The final regulations will take shape after FSSAI reviews all representations received.
Point of View
And the 2020 regulations themselves saw uneven implementation. Industry pushback on the fat and sugar ceilings is likely, given how many mainstream packaged snacks would fall above them. Whether FSSAI holds the line after the 60-day comment period will signal how serious this regulatory intent truly is.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has FSSAI proposed for school food in India?
FSSAI has proposed specific numerical thresholds to classify foods as high in added fat, added sugar, or sodium under the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020. The draft, published in the Gazette of India, aims to tighten controls on food sold to children in schools.
What are the proposed fat, sugar and salt limits for school food?
For solid foods, the proposed limits are more than 4.2 g of added fat, more than 3 g of added sugar, and more than 0.625 g of salt per 100 grams. For liquids, the thresholds are 1.5 g of fat, 2 g of sugar, and 0.175 g of salt per 100 millilitres.
What is the basis for these thresholds?
The proposed thresholds are drawn from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)'s Dietary Guidelines for Indians-2024. The regulations are framed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with prior approval of the Central government.
How can the public respond to the draft notification?
FSSAI has invited comments and objections from stakeholders and the public within 60 days of the gazette notification being made available. All representations received within this period will be considered before the final rules are notified.
Why are stricter school food norms being introduced now?
Rising rates of childhood obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases have increased scrutiny of food sold in school canteens. The move also aligns with ICMR's updated 2024 dietary guidelines, which explicitly caution against ultra-processed and high-calorie food consumption among children.
