NEW DELHI: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Saturday proposed a ban on adding fructose and sucrose in food products for infants up to six months of age.The food regulator published a draft amendment called ‘The draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations 2026’ over the previous 2020 regulations, for public consultation.FSSAI proposed to “prohibit the addition of sucrose and fructose in food products intended for infants up to six months of age,” the draft said.According to the proposal, Stakeholders can submit objections and suggestions within 60 days.The objective is to strengthen nutritional safeguards for infants, according to a statement from the ministry of health and family welfare, cited by PTI.
“The first six months of life represent a critical period for healthy growth and development, making appropriate nutrition particularly important. The proposed restriction seeks to ensure that infant nutrition products meet the nutritional needs of this age group without unnecessary addition of sucrose and fructose,” the ministry said.The existing regulations set nutritional composition, quality and safety standards for infant nutrition products designed for children from birth to 24 months. They identify lactose and glucose polymers as the preferred carbohydrate sources, while allowing sucrose and fructose to be added, within prescribed limits, when needed to provide carbohydrates.The proposed amendment seeks to tighten these provisions by barring the addition of sucrose and fructose to products intended for infants up to six months of age.