FSSAI Pushes for QR Code Integration in Plant-Based Food Sector

Trying to increase consumer confidence in the rapidly expanding plant-based food industry, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has urged manufacturers to take the initiative of putting QR codes on the labels of their products voluntarily.

This is supposed to offer consumers easier access to nutritional values and ingredient list especially the needs of younger and tech-savvy consumers.

The Chief Executive Officer of FSSAI, Rajit Punhani, noted the challenge of small labels, particularly with Gen Z users who could use QR codes to scan them daily to obtain nutritional information. "The label is too small, it's difficult to read and difficult to comprehend," Punhani said at the 4th Plant-Based Foods Summit. FSSAI is not compelling the introduction of QR codes, but it promotes transparency and empowers consumers through the introduction of QR codes on a voluntary basis."

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Punhani also recognized the problem of FSSAI because of the collision of opinions among the food industry and the medical community about the health promotion of plant-based diets. He observed that the wrong information on social media had made the messaging of the regulator difficult. In response to this, FSSAI has provided a specific vegan logo and a regulatory framework to provide honest labeling and adherence.

Other than food labeling, FSSAI emphasized food sustainability and competitiveness of food exports in the world as priority areas. Punhani emphasized that food safety failures would damage the international image of India and disrupt trade, becoming a multi-sector alliance and investing more in research.