New Delhi, 17 October 2026: In an important step towards strengthening infant nutrition safeguards, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has published draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, which propose to ban the addition of sucrose and fructose in food products intended for infants up to six months of age.
The draft Food Safety and Standards (Infant Nutritional Foods) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on 16 October 2026, seeks to further strengthen the existing regulatory framework by ensuring that infant nutrition products are formulated in accordance with age-appropriate nutritional needs, with a special emphasis on minimizing exposure to added sugars during the early stages of life.
Current regulations set comprehensive nutritional composition, quality and safety standards for a range of infant nutrition products intended for children from birth to 24 months. Under current provisions, lactose and glucose polymers are the preferred sources of carbohydrates, while sucrose and/or fructose can be added only when required as a carbohydrate source, subject to prescribed limits.
Based on these provisions, the draft amendment proposes a specific ban on the addition of sucrose and fructose to products for infants up to six months of age. The proposed provision states that “sucrose and fructose may not be added to products for infants under 6 months of age.”
The first six months of life represent a critical period for healthy growth and development, making proper nutrition especially important. The proposed restriction seeks to ensure that infant nutrition products meet the nutritional needs of this age group without unnecessary additions of sucrose and fructose. The measure is also intended to support broader public health efforts to address concerns associated with early exposure to added sugars, including dietary risk factors associated with childhood obesity and related health challenges.
This initiative complements established public health recommendations promoting exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. By strengthening the standards for infant nutrition products, the proposed reform seeks to support appropriate infant feeding practices while encouraging manufacturers to adopt formulations that prioritize the specific nutritional needs of young infants.
The proposed regulatory step reflects FSSAI's continued focus on science-based food standards, responsible product design and preventive nutrition. It also emphasizes the importance of protecting the nutritional well-being of children from the earliest stages of life as an integral part of the country's broader public health priorities.
The Gazette notification has been published for public consultation, in which comments and suggestions have been invited from interested parties/stakeholders within 60 days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette containing the notification are made available to the public. The submissions received within the stipulated period will be considered by FSSAI before finalizing the amendment.