Preparations are being made to change the rules related to nutrition of small children. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed to ban the addition of fructose in food products meant for infants up to six months of age.
Baby Food New Rules: FSSAI has issued a draft amendment to change the existing rules related to child nutrition. It calls for a ban on the addition of sucrose and fructose in food products prepared for children up to six months of age. The move aims to protect babies from sugar consumption at an early age and strengthen safety standards regarding their nutrition.
The draft of the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026 related to this was published in the Gazette of India on 16 October 2026.
What are the rules related to baby food now?
The existing regulations set standards for the quality, composition and safety of infant nutrition products intended for children from birth to 24 months. In these, lactose and glucose polymers have been given priority as sources of carbohydrates.
At the same time, sucrose and fructose can be used under prescribed limits and conditions. Now, through the proposed change, it has been said that the use of these two sweets will be banned for infants up to six months of age.
for small children Why is it important to avoid extra sugar?
Children’s nutrition in the early months of life is very important for their growth and development. At this age, food should be given keeping in mind their nutritional needs. Concerns about children’s health are also behind the initiative to limit the use of added sugar in food products.
Emphasis on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months
Public health recommendations to promote exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of infancy are also considered important in this direction. Breastfeeding provides nutrition to the baby as per his needs. In such a situation, the purpose of strengthening the rules related to infant feeding is also to ensure proper nutrition and safety at an early age.
Companies may also have to make changes
If the proposal gets final approval, companies making the food products concerned may have to change the composition of their products for infants up to six months. They have to select materials and ensure quality of products as per the proposed standards.
The new rule has not come into effect yet
It is worth noting that this amendment issued by FSSAI is currently a draft proposal and not a final rule. Suggestions and objections have been sought from the general public and concerned parties on this.
Feedback can be given within 60 days from the date of publication of the draft in the Gazette. After this, the process of finalizing the amendments will proceed after considering the suggestions received.
This proposal of FSSAI is an important step towards changing the rules regarding sugar used in baby food. However, until the amendment receives final approval, it should not be viewed as an enforceable restriction.