FSSAI draft would bar added sucrose and fructose in food for infants up to six months

17 October 2026

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has published a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. The draft is titled the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026. It proposes that sucrose and fructose shall not be added to products intended for infants up to six months of age. The draft was published in the Gazette of India on 16 October 2026. Under the existing rules lactose and glucose polymers are the preferred carbohydrate sources, and sucrose or fructose may be added within set limits only where needed as a carbohydrate source. The Health Ministry says the change addresses early sugar exposure and its link to childhood obesity, and supports exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Stakeholders have 60 days from the date gazette copies are made available to the public to file objections and suggestions.