FSSAI to Require Scientific Evidence for Food Safety Claims from January 2026

Starting January 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will mandate that all claims made by food businesses regarding the safety of their products be backed by scientific evidence and aligned with Indian dietary habits. This requirement will apply to new product submissions or requests for modifications to existing products but will not affect already licensed items.

The regulator’s move follows a review of several submissions that lacked proper scientific backing. To streamline the process, FSSAI plans to introduce a standardized format guided by scientific panels, requesting evidence on nutrition, toxicology, intake limits, allergies and other relevant factors. Submitted claims will then be evaluated by the scientific panel, which will provide an opinion on the validity of the data, ensuring stricter, evidence-based oversight of food safety standards.

03-01-2026