In today’s health-conscious market, consumers are increasingly aware of what goes into their food. Labels bearing phrases like “No Added Sugar”, “No Added Salt”, or “Free from Additives” have become common on packaged foods. However, such claims are not just marketing tools — they are strictly regulated under Indian food laws to ensure truthfulness, transparency, and consumer protection.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), through its regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, governs such “Non-Addition Claims”. This article explains in detail the provisions related to non-addition of sugars, salt, and additives, as well as additional disclaimer requirements to ensure clarity for consumers.
1. What are Non-Addition Claims?
Non-addition claims are label statements that suggest a food product does not contain certain ingredients, such as sugar, salt, or food additives — either because they were never added or are not present due to formulation. These claims directly influence consumer choices, especially for those with medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension) or those pursuing clean-label diets.
To prevent misleading information, FSSAI has laid down detailed conditions for making such claims in a truthful and verifiable manner.
2. Non-Addition of Sugars
2.1 Claim Definition
A claim like “No Added Sugar” may only be made if all the following conditions are met:
2.2 When Natural Sugars Are Present
Even if the food naturally contains sugars (e.g., in fruits or milk), a “No Added Sugar” claim may still be made, provided the label also clearly states:
“CONTAINS NATURALLY OCCURRING SUGARS”
This ensures that consumers are not misled into assuming the product is entirely sugar-free when sugars occur naturally.
2.3 Practical Example
A pack of 100% pure orange juice made from fresh oranges (without added sugar or concentrate) may carry the claim “No Added Sugar”, but must also bear the “Contains Naturally Occurring Sugars” disclaimer.
3. Non-Addition of Salt (Sodium Chloride)
3.1 Claim Definition
Claims such as “No Added Salt” or “Salt-Free” may be used only if:
Disallowed Ingredients:
These rules prevent food companies from hiding salt content through indirect sources.
3.2 Importance for Public Health
High sodium intake is linked to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Non-addition claims serve as vital guidance for consumers managing their salt intake. Therefore, these claims must be truthfully presented and backed by accurate formulation data.
4. Non-Addition of Additives
4.1 Claim Definition
A claim that a food product has “No Additives”, “No Preservatives”, or “Free from Artificial Colors” can be made only if:
4.2 Ensuring Fair Representation
This regulation ensures that food businesses do not mislead by omitting one additive while secretly substituting it with another having similar chemical or functional properties.
Example:
If a soft drink claims “No Artificial Preservatives” but contains another chemical additive acting as a preservative, this would violate the regulation.
5. Additional Conditions and Disclaimers
5.1 Role of Disclaimers
When making non-addition claims, food businesses must ensure that:
5.2 Why Are They Important?
Even truthful claims can mislead if not properly contextualized. For example:
Disclaimers help bridge this understanding gap by setting the right consumer expectations.
6. Regulatory and Business Implications
6.1 For Food Businesses
Making non-addition claims without meeting these regulatory conditions may result in:
6.2 For Consumers
These rules ensure that consumers:
Rely on scientifically supported and legally validated product claims
7. Best Practices for Compliance
Food businesses can adopt the following strategies:
Disclaimer Review: Ensure any additional information is clearly visible and easy to understand.
Conclusion
Non-addition claims are more than just marketing language — they are regulated health claims with real implications for public health and consumer trust. By defining strict conditions for when and how such claims can be made, FSSAI has ensured that food labelling in India remains credible, transparent, and science-backed.
For food businesses, it is imperative to understand and comply with these rules to avoid penalties, maintain market reputation, and serve consumer interests. For consumers, these rules offer a safeguard — a reliable reference when choosing healthier options.
As the demand for clean labels and low-sodium/sugar products continues to grow, compliance with non-addition claim regulations will be a key pillar of responsible food marketing.
Read more about this Regulation: Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018
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