Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Issues Amendment on Coffee–Chicory Labelling Standards in India

"The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has officially notified the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) First Amendment Regulations, 2025 through the Gazette of India on 12 August 2025, introducing significant changes to the labelling requirements for coffee–chicory mixtures. This amendment revises earlier provisions under the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 and mandates that packaged coffee–chicory blends must now carry clearer, more transparent ingredient declarations. With this development, the long-standing ambiguity over the composition of coffee–chicory mixtures in the Indian market is set to end, ensuring that consumers are fully informed about the exact proportion of coffee and chicory in the product they purchase. Coffee–chicory mixtures are highly popular in India, particularly in the southern states, where they are consumed daily as an affordable and flavourful alternative to pure coffee. However, the ratio of coffee to chicory often varies widely, with some brands offering blends that contain as little as 20 percent coffee and as much as 80 percent chicory. This lack of standardised labelling has led to concerns about consumer awareness and fair trade practices, as many buyers were unable to easily identify how much actual coffee their blend contained. The new FSSAI amendment directly addresses this issue by mandating a clear declaration of the percentage of coffee and chicory on every package, placed in a conspicuous manner so that consumers can easily read and understand the composition before making their purchase. According to the notification, the updated regulation replaces the earlier sub-paragraph of Schedule II under the 2020 regulations and explicitly requires manufacturers to display the coffee–chicory ratio on the label. The notification, published as an Extraordinary Gazette, came into immediate effect from the date of publication, 12 August 2025. While Food Business Operators (FBOs) are expected to comply immediately, industry experts suggest that a short adjustment period may be allowed to facilitate changes to existing packaging. Nonetheless, all new production batches moving forward must carry the revised labelling to remain compliant. The primary objective behind this regulatory update is to promote transparency, protect consumer interests, and align Indian labelling practices with international norms. The amendment ensures that customers can make informed purchasing decisions, reducing the chances of being misled by branding or packaging claims. It also reinforces fair competition among manufacturers by standardising the disclosure requirement, preventing companies from masking higher chicory content without clear labelling. At a broader level, this move strengthens food safety standards and builds consumer trust in India’s growing packaged beverage sector. The economic and market implications of this regulation are considerable. The coffee–chicory segment in India is valued at over ₹2,000 crore annually, with major brands like Bru, Narasu’s, and Cothas Coffee dominating the retail space. With FSSAI’s amendment, these companies will now need to redesign their packaging and marketing materials to incorporate the new labelling rules. While this represents an additional compliance cost in the short term, the long-term benefits include improved consumer confidence and stronger brand loyalty. For exporters, the amendment is equally significant as it ensures that Indian coffee–chicory blends meet the ingredient declaration requirements of key international markets such as the European Union and ASEAN nations, thereby facilitating smoother trade and reducing the risk of rejections due to labelling discrepancies. The gazette notification emphasises that FSSAI’s broader regulatory framework is not only about safety but also about enhancing transparency and fair practices in India’s food industry. By setting a precedent with coffee–chicory mixtures, FSSAI is likely to extend similar transparency requirements across other blended food categories in the near future. The authority continues to modernise India’s food labelling laws in line with global best practices, addressing consumer demand for clarity, authenticity, and safety in packaged products."