As India grapples with a surge in lifestyle diseases and a public increasingly mindful of health, the absence of a standardised front-of-pack (FoP) nutritional grading system stands out as a glaring gap in its food policy landscape. Packed foods and drinks are more widely consumed than ever, yet nutritional labels remain dense and confusing. What’s needed is a simple, transparent FoP system already implemented in places like France, Belgium and Australia to empower consumers with quick, informed decisions.
The case for a national nutritional grading framework
Globally, graded FoP labels like Nutri-Score in Europe and Health Star Rating (HSR) in Australia have shown impressive results. Nutri-Score, which uses a colour-coded A–E scale, has been proven to improve consumer choices: one meta-analysis found it led to a 7.9 per cent increase in overall diet quality while reducing calorie, salt and saturated fat intake by up to 17 per cent. In Belgium alone, the adoption of Nutri-Score across 1,700 products in its first year signalled strong industry engagement. Australia’s HSR offers a responsive ½-to-5-star scale. These models demonstrate that clear, visual grading encourages healthier shopping habits and yields public health benefits.
Challenges in the Indian context
India’s diversity spanning thousands of food products, from artisanal treats to packaged staples, makes broad implementation complex. Moreover, some industry voices argue that grading may unfairly penalise traditional foods. Indeed, Nutri-Score in Europe initially rated nutrient-rich cheeses poorly, prompting revisions to ensure alignment with dietary guidelines.
In India, the FSSAI introduced its “Indian Nutrition Rating” (INR) proposal in 2022, modelled on HSR. It uses ½-to-5-star ratings based on energy, sugar, saturated fat and sodium content, with voluntary adoption for four years. However, dairy, ironically, is exempt from INR labelling alongside oils, flours, grains and others. This exemption misses a strategic opportunity: with dairy’s widespread consumption and trusted status, it is the perfect category to lead the grading rollout.
Why dairy must be the pioneer category
1. Ubiquity: Milk and dairy products are integral to diets across rural and urban India, cutting across socio-economic lines.
2. Health impact: Dairy delivers high-quality protein, calcium, vitamins, and often probiotics, making it a key public health lever.
3. Diverse formats: From plain milk and curd to flavoured milks and cheese spreads, dairy has varying nutritional profiles that can be easily graded and improved.
4. Regulatory linkages: FSSAI oversight alongside strong industry (cooperatives, private brands) alignment makes collaborative pilot projects feasible.
Public health and market benefits
Implementing grading in dairy could:
● Empower consumers: A simple, visual grading label can help even rural or low-literacy shoppers make healthier choices, a critical advantage where nutrition transparency is rare.
● Drive reformulation: Producers would have strong motivation to improve sodium, sugar and fat levels to earn higher ratings.
● Build trust: Brands openly sharing grades signal confidence in their product’s quality, reinforcing consumer loyalty.
● Benchmark entire industry: Success in dairy would pave the way for processed foods, snacks and beverages, raising the bar across the food industry.
Voices from health experts and regulators
FSSAI has been proactive in drafting FoP regulations but has yet to finalise or implement them fully. Nutritionists caution against one-size-fits-all labels, highlighting the need for standards aligned to Indian RDAs and cultural context. European dairy associations also stressed the importance of nutrient profiling that acknowledges beneficial components in dairy, a misplaced Nutri-Score classification risking calcium and protein access.
Indian experts echo similar concerns: Any grading model must balance negative factors like saturated fat with positives like protein and micronutrients. Pilot programs in dairy can create credible, culturally relevant frameworks.
Why first movers reap rewards
1. Branddifferentiation: Premium dairy brands that commit to grading will stand out as trusted and health-forward.
2. Policyinfluence: Participating brands can shape technical and regulatory standards.
3. Consumer loyalty: Transparency builds trust, particularly among health-conscious urban shoppers.
4. Long-term gains: Early pilots position brands for scale when grading systems extend to other categories.
Charting the way forward
To succeed, dairy-led grading needs coordinated effort:
● Policy alignment: FSSAI to include dairy in INR labelling and collaborate with expert panels for nutrient profiling.
● Pilot programmes: Conduct trials with cooperatives and leading brands in selected regions and platforms to evaluate impact.
● Consumer research: Directly assess how grading shifts purchasing decisions in urban and rural settings.
● Educate consumers: Launch awareness drives on label meaning, empowering informed choices.
Dairy as the petri dish for healthy eating transformation
A national nutritional grading system in India is no longer optional; it’s essential for addressing rising chronic diseases. Dairy, with its blend of high consumption, nutritional value, regulatory structure and cultural acceptance, provides the perfect launchpad. By pioneering transparent labelling, dairy brands can not only fulfil corporate responsibility but also spark a broader transformation towards healthier, informed diets across all sectors.
It’s time to let India’s trusted glass of milk lead the charge, one grade at a time.
(The author is Director of Sterling Agro Industries Ltd.)
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Published on July 13, 2025