FSSAI Proposes Ban on Sucrose and Fructose in Infant Foods Up to Six Months

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India published a draft amendment on 16 October that would ban the addition of sucrose and fructose to food products intended for infants up to six months of age. The proposal tightens existing rules under the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, which currently allow limited use of those sugars when required.

Under the present regulations, lactose and glucose polymers are the preferred carbohydrate sources in infant nutrition products. Sucrose and fructose may be added within prescribed limits. The draft inserts a specific proviso stating that sucrose and fructose shall not be added in products intended for infants up to the age of six months. The restriction applies only to that age group; manufacturers may continue to use the sugars within limits for products aimed at infants from six to 24 months.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the measure seeks to reduce infants’ exposure to added sugars during a period of rapid growth and to support efforts against childhood obesity. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. The FSSAI draft addresses the composition of regulated formula and complementary products rather than breastfeeding itself.

The draft was published in the Gazette of India for public consultation. Stakeholders have 60 days from the date copies become available to submit objections or suggestions. The amendment will not take effect until the consultation period ends and the government issues a final notification.

The proposal follows earlier controversy over added sugar in infant cereals sold in India. An international investigation in 2024 found that some Nestlé products marketed in India contained added sugar while similar products sold in Europe did not. FSSAI has since increased scrutiny of infant-food labeling and composition. The current draft focuses specifically on sucrose and fructose rather than a broader ban on all sweeteners.

India’s packaged-food market exceeds $100 billion. Infant-nutrition products form a smaller but closely regulated segment. The FSSAI has also advanced front-of-pack warning labels for foods high in sugar, salt or saturated fat, and has conducted more frequent inspections of restaurants and manufacturers. The infant-food amendment is presented as a targeted step within that wider enforcement effort.

Industry groups have not yet issued detailed responses. Companies that currently formulate products for the youngest infants with sucrose or fructose would need to reformulate if the draft becomes final. The 60-day window allows manufacturers, pediatric associations and consumer groups to comment on technical feasibility and nutritional adequacy.

The existing 2020 regulations already set standards for composition, quality and safety of products for children from birth to 24 months. The draft does not alter those broader standards; it adds one restriction on two specific sugars for the youngest age band. Naturally occurring sugars in permitted ingredients are not addressed by the new proviso.

Public-health officials have pointed to rising rates of childhood overweight in urban India as one reason for limiting early sugar exposure. No new national survey figures were released with the draft. The ministry statement emphasized age-appropriate nutrition and the minimization of added sugars in the first six months of life.

The consultation remains open. Final language could change based on comments received. Until a notified regulation appears, current rules continue to apply. Manufacturers and importers of infant formula and related products are expected to review formulations against the proposed text during the comment period.