FSSAI makes Menu Labelling Mandatory for Restaurants

\FSSAI has clarified that the ’Display of Information (Menu labelling) in Food Service Establishments will be crucial  for Food Business Operators (FBOs)  from the beginning of the year 2022. 

The guideline  is in reference to 9th Amendment  of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 notified on 21 ’ August, 2020 vide Gazette Notification F. No. REG-18/Menu Labelling/FSSAI-2018. The idea is to provide all the nutritional information to consumers.

FSSAI has considered the fact that menu labeling is quite a  new practice   for the restaurants  in India. Moreover the hotel and restaurant industry is still recuperating from the jitters of pandemic . FBOs will take time to get accustomed and adopt  the new way. 

It  has been stated by the FSSAI  that the practice of Menu labeling in a self-compliant manner, no sampling of the food items listed on the menu cards/boards/booklets by the FBOs shall be carried out to check/verify the respective declarations of calorific value and nutritional information till 30th June, 2022.

FSSAI has also clarified that any non-compliance may be addressed by issuing improvement notice under Section 32 of the FSS Act, 2006 for further compliance.

The direction has been issued with the approval of Competent Authority in exercise of the power vested with Food Authority under Section 16(5) of the FSS Act, 2006. Source: FSSAI