Overview of Clause 9 of Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulation 2020:
Clause 9 mandates that all food service establishments holding a Central license or operating 10 or more outlets must display critical nutritional and allergen-related information directly on their menu cards, boards, or booklets.
This includes:
Calorific Value: The energy content must be declared in kilocalories (kcal) per serving along with the serving size.
Reference Calorie Intake Statement: Menus must clearly display the standard advisory—
“An average active adult requires 2,000 kcal energy per day, however, calorie needs may vary.”
Allergen Information: Disclosures must be made regarding allergens as per sub-regulation 5(14), preferably using easily recognizable symbols.
Vegetarian/Non-Vegetarian Logo: Appropriate logos must be used to indicate the nature of food items.
Beyond visible menu displays, FSEs are required to provide detailed nutritional data upon request. This includes:
Nutritional composition in accordance with sub-regulation 5(3).
Specific labelling requirements under Schedule-II provisions 1.1 (1), (2), (3), 1.4 (3), (4), and 1.7, where applicable.
Claims relating to organic food or ingredients, if made.
Such information must be accessible through printed booklets, handouts, or digital platforms like websites. A permissible variance of up to 25% in nutritional declarations is allowed to accommodate preparation variability.
Exceptions and Special Considerations
Certain food service operations are exempt from these provisions:
Temporary Operations: Establishments operating for less than 60 days annually, whether continuously or intermittently.
Event Caterers: Temporary food businesses catering to specific events.
Self-Serve Condiments: Free condiments not listed on the menu.
Customized Orders: Special orders or modifications requested by customers.
These exceptions ensure that small-scale, temporary, or highly personalized food offerings are not burdened with the same compliance requirements as permanent or large-scale establishments.
E-Commerce and Digital Food Services
Read more about this Regulation: https://fssai.gov.in/cms/food-safety-and-standards-regulations.php
Disclaimer: The information contained in this Article is intended solely for personal non-commercial use of the user who accepts full responsibility of its use. The information in the article is general in nature and should not be considered to be legal, tax, accounting, consulting or any other professional advice. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied regarding the accuracy, adequacy, reliability or completeness of any information on our page/article.