India’s food safety regulator has proposed tighter rules on the addition of certain sugars to infant nutrition products, focusing on foods intended for babies during the first six months of life.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has published a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. The proposal seeks to prohibit the addition of sucrose and fructose in products intended for infants up to six months of age.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: FSSAI proposes restricting the addition of sucrose and fructose in infant nutrition products intended for babies up to six months.
Location: India.
Authority/Organisation: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Action Taken: A draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, was published in the Gazette of India on October 16, 2026, with public consultation announced on October 17.
Impact: If finalised as proposed, the amendment would tighten formulation requirements for covered infant nutrition products. The proposal is not yet a final rule.
The draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, was published in the Gazette of India on October 16. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced the development through the Press Information Bureau on October 17.
The proposed change would strengthen existing provisions governing the nutritional composition of infant food products. Under the current framework described by the government, lactose and glucose polymers are preferred carbohydrate sources, while sucrose and/or fructose may be used when needed as a carbohydrate source, subject to prescribed conditions and limits.
The draft proposes a specific restriction for products intended for babies up to six months. If finalised in its current form, manufacturers would need to ensure that products covered by the provision comply with the new requirement.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Early-life nutrition: The proposal focuses on nutritional standards during the first six months of life. Food regulation: It could change the formulation requirements for infant nutrition products covered by the regulations. Consumer clarity: The distinction between a draft proposal and a final rule helps prevent misleading claims about products already being banned. Manufacturer compliance: Companies may need to review ingredients and quality-control procedures if the amendment is finalised. Public health policy: The proposal complements government support for age-appropriate infant feeding and preventive nutrition. Evidence-based decision-making: The consultation process allows stakeholders to submit objections and suggestions before finalisation.
However, the proposal has not yet become a final rule. FSSAI has opened a consultation process, allowing stakeholders to submit objections and suggestions before the amendment is finalised.
What exactly has FSSAI proposed?
The draft amendment states that sucrose and fructose should not be added to products intended for infants up to six months of age.
Sucrose is the common form of table sugar, while fructose is a naturally occurring simple sugar found in fruits and other foods. The proposed restriction concerns their addition to covered infant nutrition products; it should not be interpreted as a claim that every food containing naturally occurring sugars is prohibited.
The proposal forms part of the regulatory framework for foods designed to meet the nutritional requirements of infants and young children. These products are subject to specific standards because nutrition during early infancy is particularly important for growth and development.
The draft focuses on products intended for the age group up to six months. It does not, by itself, establish an identical prohibition for every food product marketed to older infants or young children.
The exact effect on individual products will depend on the final wording of the amendment, the products covered by the relevant regulations and any final conditions adopted after consultation.
Why is the first six months important?
The first six months of life are a critical period for infant growth and development. Nutrition during this stage supports the development of the body and brain, while feeding practices established early can influence later dietary habits.
Public health recommendations generally support exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, where possible and appropriate. Exclusive breastfeeding means that the infant receives breast milk without other foods or drinks, apart from medicines, vitamins, minerals or oral rehydration solution when medically indicated.
Some infants may require specialised feeding arrangements for medical or other reasons. Parents and caregivers should follow advice from qualified healthcare professionals when making feeding decisions.
FSSAI’s proposal is intended to strengthen the nutritional standards for regulated infant products by reducing the scope for adding sucrose and fructose to products designed for babies in this age group.
The policy rationale is preventive: the regulator wants products intended for early infancy to prioritise age-appropriate nutritional needs and avoid unnecessary added sugars.
The draft does not establish that every product currently containing these ingredients has caused harm, nor does it provide evidence that a particular brand or product has violated food safety rules.
What do sucrose and fructose do in food products?
Sucrose and fructose are sugars that can contribute sweetness and provide energy. In food manufacturing, sugars may also affect taste, texture and other product characteristics.
The nutritional needs of infants are different from those of older children and adults. Infant nutrition products must therefore meet specific composition and safety requirements rather than being formulated simply to appeal to consumer taste preferences.
Under the existing regulatory provisions described by the government, lactose and glucose polymers are preferred carbohydrate sources in infant nutrition products. Sucrose and/or fructose may currently be added only when required as a carbohydrate source and within the conditions prescribed by the regulations.
FSSAI’s draft seeks to tighten that framework for products intended for babies up to six months by proposing that sucrose and fructose should not be added to those products.
The proposal concerns the formulation of regulated products. It should not be taken as a recommendation for parents to modify infant formula or other specialised nutrition products at home.
Will the proposal immediately change products available in shops?
Not immediately on the basis of the draft alone.
FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 60 days from the date on which copies of the relevant Official Gazette notification are made available to the public. The authority will consider submissions received within the prescribed period before finalising the amendment.
Stakeholders may include manufacturers, nutrition experts, industry associations and other parties affected by the proposed change.
After the consultation process, FSSAI may finalise the amendment in its proposed form or make changes based on the representations received and the regulatory process. The final notification will determine the requirements that apply and when they take effect.
Until then, the proposal should be described as a draft regulation rather than an operative ban. Any claim that a named product has already been removed from the market or that all manufacturers must immediately reformulate their products would require separate evidence.
What could change for infant food manufacturers?
If the amendment is finalised as proposed, manufacturers of covered products would need to ensure that sucrose and fructose are not added to products intended for infants up to six months of age.
Companies may need to review product formulations, ingredient specifications, manufacturing processes and quality-control procedures. They may also need to update internal compliance documents and verify that labels accurately reflect the final requirements.
The practical changes would depend on the ingredients used in each product and the final text of the amendment. Not every infant nutrition product necessarily uses the same formulation, so the effects may differ between manufacturers and product categories.
The draft also does not automatically establish that a manufacturer is currently non-compliant. Existing products must be assessed against the regulations that are legally in force, while the proposed amendment remains under consultation.
For consumers, the final regulation and any official implementation guidance would be the relevant documents for understanding which products are covered and what manufacturers must do.
Does this mean all sugar is being banned from baby food?
No. The proposal is narrower than a blanket ban on all sugars in all foods for children.
The draft amendment concerns the addition of sucrose and fructose in products intended for infants up to six months under the infant nutrition regulations. It does not automatically prohibit every food containing naturally occurring sugars, nor does it establish the same rule for every product intended for older children.
It is also important to distinguish a restriction on adding ingredients during manufacturing from a statement about every naturally occurring component of food.
The scope of any final restriction will be determined by the exact language of the final amendment and the product categories to which it applies.
Parents should not interpret the proposal as an instruction to dilute infant formula, replace prescribed feeds or change a baby's feeding routine without appropriate medical advice.
How does the proposal relate to breastfeeding recommendations?
The government says the proposed measure complements public health recommendations promoting exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.
Breastfeeding recommendations and food-product regulations serve related but distinct purposes. Breastfeeding guidance addresses infant feeding practices, while FSSAI’s regulations establish standards for products that fall within the legal definition of infant nutrition foods.
Some families may use regulated infant nutrition products because of medical circumstances, individual needs or other reasons. Those products must meet the applicable safety and nutritional standards.
The draft proposal does not replace medical advice, determine which feeding method is appropriate for an individual baby or establish that every infant will have the same nutritional requirements.
Parents who are concerned about feeding, growth, intolerance or a baby's medical condition should consult a qualified healthcare professional rather than making changes based solely on a news report.
What should parents and caregivers know right now?
For parents, the most important point is that the announcement concerns a proposed regulatory change, not an instruction to immediately stop using a particular product.
Caregivers should continue to follow qualified medical advice and the instructions applicable to any infant nutrition product they use. They should not dilute formula, alter its ingredients or replace it with homemade mixtures because of the draft proposal.
Product labels can provide information about ingredients and age suitability, but a label should be interpreted alongside the product's intended use and professional guidance where necessary.
Parents should also be cautious about social-media claims suggesting that a specific brand has been banned or that every infant formula contains added sucrose or fructose. The government announcement does not identify a particular company as having violated the rules.
If FSSAI finalises the amendment, the final notification and official guidance will clarify the legal requirements for manufacturers and the implementation timeline.
Why the regulatory process matters
Food standards can have wide effects on manufacturers, healthcare professionals and consumers. A consultation process allows technical and practical considerations to be examined before a proposed amendment becomes final.
Manufacturers may submit information about formulations and production processes, while scientific and public health stakeholders may offer views on nutritional requirements and implementation.
The regulator can then consider the representations received before deciding on the final wording. The consultation period does not guarantee that the proposal will remain unchanged, but it creates a formal opportunity for stakeholders to provide relevant evidence.
For accurate reporting, the distinction between a draft and a final regulation is essential. The proposal signals the regulator’s intended direction, but the legal obligations that ultimately apply must be established through the final notification.
