The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a significant regulatory update aimed at improving transparency in the coffee industry. Through a new directive, FSSAI has made it mandatory for manufacturers of packaged coffee blends containing chicory to clearly declare the percentage of Coffee and Chicory on the Principal Display Panel (PDP) of the product.
The regulation will come into effect from 1 July 2027, providing food businesses with adequate time to update their packaging and ensure compliance with the new labelling requirements.
What Is the New FSSAI Requirement?
Under the new direction, all packaged coffee products that contain a blend of coffee and chicory must prominently display the exact percentage of each ingredient on the front of the package.
The declaration must be made on the Principal Display Panel (PDP), ensuring that consumers can easily identify the composition of the product before making a purchase.
For example:
- Coffee: 70%, Chicory: 30%
This information should be clearly visible and not hidden elsewhere on the packaging.
Why Has FSSAI Introduced This Regulation?
FSSAI’s latest directive aims to strengthen transparency and improve consumer confidence in packaged food products. Many consumers are unaware that several coffee products available in the market contain varying proportions of chicory mixed with coffee.
By mandating clear front-of-pack declarations, FSSAI seeks to ensure that consumers know exactly what they are purchasing.
The initiative supports several important objectives:
- Improve transparency in food labelling
- Enable informed consumer choices
- Standardize labelling practices across the coffee industry
- Promote fair competition among manufacturers
- Strengthen regulatory compliance
Who Will Be Affected?
The regulation applies to:
- Coffee manufacturers
- Coffee blending companies
- Food business operators producing packaged coffee blends
- Importers and marketers of blended coffee products
Any packaged coffee product containing chicory will need to comply with the new declaration requirements before the implementation date.
What Food Businesses Should Do
Food businesses should begin preparations well in advance to ensure smooth compliance before 1 July 2027.
Recommended actions include:
- Review existing packaging designs
- Verify the percentage of coffee and chicory in products
- Update labels to include mandatory declarations on the PDP
- Coordinate with packaging suppliers for redesigns
- Ensure compliance with all applicable FSSAI labelling regulations
Early preparation can help businesses avoid last-minute changes and potential regulatory issues.
Benefits for Consumers
The new regulation offers several advantages for consumers, including:
- Greater transparency about product composition
- Easier comparison between different coffee brands
- Better purchasing decisions based on ingredient preferences
- Increased confidence in food labelling
- Improved awareness of blended coffee products
Industry Impact
The coffee industry is expected to adopt more transparent labelling practices as a result of this regulation. Manufacturers may need to redesign packaging, update product information, and strengthen internal compliance systems.
Although businesses will incur some packaging modification costs, the regulation is expected to improve consumer trust and create a more standardized marketplace.
Effective Date
The mandatory front-of-pack declaration requirement for coffee and chicory content will become effective on 1 July 2027.
Food businesses are encouraged to complete all necessary packaging updates well before the deadline to ensure full compliance.
Conclusion
FSSAI’s decision to mandate front-of-pack declaration of coffee and chicory content marks another important step toward enhancing transparency in India’s food sector. By requiring manufacturers to clearly display the percentage of coffee and chicory on product packaging, the regulator aims to empower consumers with accurate information while encouraging fair and consistent labelling practices across the industry.
Businesses should use the transition period wisely to update packaging, align with regulatory requirements, and maintain consumer trust through transparent product information.
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