New Delhi: India’s food safety regulator has proposed restricting the addition of sucrose and fructose in infant nutrition products meant for babies up to six months of age. The draft amendment aims to strengthen nutritional standards and minimise exposure to added sugars during early infancy.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed prohibiting the addition of sucrose and fructose in food products intended for infants up to six months of age. The proposal is part of the draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on October 16.
The draft states that sucrose and fructose shall not be added to products intended for infants up to the age of six months. The amendment seeks to strengthen existing regulations governing the nutritional composition, quality, and safety of infant nutrition products.
Under the existing Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, infant nutrition products must comply with prescribed nutritional composition and safety standards. The current provisions identify lactose and glucose polymers as preferred carbohydrate sources, while sucrose and fructose may currently be added when required, subject to specified limits. The proposed amendment seeks to introduce a specific restriction for products intended for infants in this youngest age group.
The first six months of life are crucial for an infant’s growth and development, making appropriate nutrition particularly important. The proposed restriction aims to minimise unnecessary exposure to added sugars in infant nutrition products. Early dietary habits and nutrition are important public health considerations, particularly given concerns about childhood obesity and related health risks.
The proposal also aligns with established public health recommendations that promote exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. However, the draft amendment specifically concerns the addition of sucrose and fructose to regulated infant nutrition products and should not be interpreted as a blanket prohibition on all carbohydrates or naturally occurring sugars in infant foods.
The draft notification has been published for public consultation. FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 60 days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette containing the notification are made available to the public. The regulator will consider the representations received within the prescribed period before finalising the amendment. Until the proposal is finalised, it remains a draft regulation rather than a confirmed change to the existing rules.