TL;DR
- A food label may make a claim only if it is truthful and meets the conditions of the FSS (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.
- Words such as natural, fresh and pure have fixed meanings in Schedule V, nutrition claims must meet the Schedule I thresholds, and health claims follow Regulation 7.
- Claims to prevent or cure disease are banned, and a misleading claim attracts a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh under section 53 of the FSS Act.
Quick Answer: A food label may make a claim only if it is truthful and meets the FSS (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. Natural, fresh and pure carry fixed meanings in Schedule V, nutrition claims must meet Schedule I limits, and health claims follow Regulation 7. A misleading claim attracts a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh under section 53.
Claims are where an otherwise correct label can still go wrong. The mandatory declarations can all be present while a single word on the front of pack, such as "natural" or "100%", breaches the law. The 2018 Regulations, made by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), define those words narrowly and set numeric limits for nutrition claims.
FSSAI claim rules at a glance
| Claim type | Where the rule sits | Core condition |
|---|---|---|
| General principles | Regulation 4 | Truthful, not misleading, no use of the FSSAI logo for promotion |
| Natural, fresh, pure, traditional and similar | Regulation 9(2), Schedule V | Fixed definitions; "home-made" banned |
| Brand names using those words | Regulation 4(7) | Front-of-pack disclaimer if misleading |
| Nutrition claims | Regulation 5, Schedule I | Numeric thresholds per 100 g or 100 ml |
| Non-addition claims | Regulation 6 | "No added sugar" and similar, with conditions |
| Health claims | Regulation 7, Schedules III and IV | Disease-risk claims only as listed |
| Prohibited claims | Regulation 10 | No cure, no professional endorsement |
| New claims | Regulations 11 and 12 | Prior FSSAI approval |
| Penalty | FSS Act, 2006, section 53 | Up to ₹10 lakh |
What Do the FSSAI Advertising and Claims Regulations Cover?
They cover every claim about a food, on its label or in any advertisement. Regulation 2 defines "advertisement" to include a label or wrapper, and "claim" to include any printed, oral, audio or visual representation. Regulation 3 applies the rules to food businesses and marketers alike.
The current text is FSSAI's Advertising and Claims Regulations compendium, Version IV dated 14 December 2022. No amendment has been notified since. The 2018 Regulations and other FSSAI regulations are also listed in the LexComply legal library.
What Do the General Principles Require?
Regulation 4 sets fourteen principles. A claim must be truthful and not misleading. It must not suggest that a balanced diet is inadequate. It must not use the FSSAI logo or licence number to promote the product. A food must not be presented as a meal replacement unless the rules permit it.
When Can a Label Say Natural, Fresh, Pure or Traditional?
Only when the product meets the Schedule V definition, under Regulation 9(2).
| Word | Condition in Schedule V |
|---|---|
| Natural | Single food, nothing added, only minimal processing; composites only "made from natural ingredients" |
| Fresh | Not processed beyond washing, peeling, chilling, trimming, cutting or irradiation up to 1 kGy |
| Pure | Single ingredient with nothing added |
| Traditional | Recipe or method in use for at least 30 years |
| Original | Traceable, unchanged formulation |
| Authentic, genuine, real | Justification must be explained |
| Home-made, home cooked | Not permitted |
What If the Word Is Part of a Brand Name?
Then Regulation 4(7) applies. Where a trademark or brand name using one of these words could mislead, the front of pack must state that it is only a brand name or fancy name and does not represent the product's true nature. The disclaimer must be at least 1.5 mm high on panels up to 100 cm², 2 mm up to 200 cm² and 3 mm above that.
When Are Nutrition Claims Allowed on a Label?
When the food meets the Schedule I threshold for the claim, under Regulation 5. Comparative claims such as "reduced fat" need a difference of at least 30% in energy or macronutrients, 10% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for micronutrients and 25% for sodium.
| Claim | Solids | Liquids |
|---|---|---|
| Low fat | 3 g or less per 100 g | 1.5 g or less per 100 ml |
| Fat free | 0.5 g or less per 100 g | 0.5 g or less per 100 ml |
| Low sugar | 5 g or less per 100 g | 2.5 g or less per 100 ml |
| Sugar free | 0.5 g or less per 100 g | 0.5 g or less per 100 ml |
| Low energy | 40 kcal or less per 100 g | 20 kcal or less per 100 ml |
| Trans fat free | Less than 0.2 g per 100 g | Less than 0.2 g per 100 ml |
For edible oils and fats, the trans fat free limit is 1 g per 100 g or 100 ml. A nutrition claim also removes any exemption from nutrition information, so the full nutrition panel must appear on the label.
What Do Non-Addition Claims Require?
Regulation 6 governs "no added sugar", "no added salt" and similar claims. A "no added sugar" product that contains sugars naturally must also state that it contains naturally occurring sugars.
When Are Health Claims Allowed on a Label?
Only within Regulation 7. A health claim must state the quantity of the food per 100 g, per 100 ml or per pack. Claims that a food reduces the risk of a disease are allowed only as listed in Schedule III. Fortified foods follow Schedule IV.
Can a Brand Make a Claim Not Listed in the Regulations?
Only with prior FSSAI approval. Regulation 11 requires approval for disease-risk reduction claims outside the Schedules. Regulation 12 sets the procedure, with any deficiency letter issued within 90 days and a reply due within 30 days. Product-specific benefit claims also need human intervention studies under Regulation 7(5).
Which Claims Are Banned on Food Labels?
Regulation 10 sets seven prohibitions. Five matter on most labels.
- Disease claims. No claim that a food prevents, alleviates, treats or cures a disease, unless another FSS regulation permits it.
- Professional endorsement. No "recommended by doctors" or similar claim by medical, nutrition or health professionals.
- Restoration claims. No "added nutrients" claim where nutrients only replace those lost in processing.
- Fear-arousing claims. No claim that plays on consumer fear.
- Disparaging claims. No disparagement of other products.
"Healthy" used on its own is also barred under Regulation 8(3). Regulation 10(6) adds that no health claim may be made for a food whose nutrient levels increase the risk of disease.
What Has FSSAI Said About "100%" and "ORS"?
Both are covered by orders, not new regulations. An FSSAI advisory of 28 May 2025 advised food businesses to discontinue "100%" on labels and promotions. On 15 October 2025, FSSAI clarified that "ORS" in any brand or product name breaches the Act and the Regulations, after withdrawing earlier permissions on 14 October 2025. Claims for Ayurveda-based foods follow separate rules, covered in the guide to the Ayurveda Aahara Regulations.
How Do You Check a Label Claim Before Printing?
List every word or symbol on the pack that says something about the food, then test each one against its rule. Brand names, taglines and images count, not only the nutrition panel.
- Mark every claim word on the front, back and side panels.
- Classify each: Schedule V word, nutrition, non-addition, health or general.
- Test numbers against Schedule I using the lab values for the product.
- Check Regulation 10 for any banned wording or endorsement.
- Add the Regulation 4(7) disclaimer where a brand name could mislead.
- Confirm full nutrition information is present wherever a claim appears.
- Record approvals for any claim made under Regulations 11 and 12.
The wider label, including mandatory declarations and licence details, also needs checking against the FSSAI licence held, and inspectors review labels during the routine FSSAI inspection.
Where Does a Label Compliance Checker Fit?
Claims are one of the inputs the LexComply AI Label Compliance Checker asks about before it maps the applicable requirements, and novel claims can go to its advisory services. FSSAI changes also reach its compliance management platform in daily update dossiers. To screen a claim while the artwork is still editable, check your first label free.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling a blended product "natural". Schedule V limits "natural" to a single food with nothing added; a composite may only say "made from natural ingredients".
- Citing Regulation 6 for health claims. Regulation 6 covers non-addition claims; health claims sit in Regulation 7, with disease-risk claims only under Schedule III.
- Treating the "100%" advisory as a regulation. It is an FSSAI advisory of 28 May 2025, not an amendment to the 2018 Regulations.
- Using "recommended by doctors". Regulation 10(2) prohibits endorsement claims by medical, nutrition or health professionals.
- Claiming "low sugar" on a drink at the solids limit. Liquids must be at 2.5 g or less per 100 ml, not 5 g.
- Assuming the penalty has risen. Section 53 remains up to ₹10 lakh; neither Jan Vishwas Act changed it.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is general information on FSSAI claim rules, current as at the date shown above. It is not legal advice, and claims for specific products, especially health claims, should be reviewed against the full Regulations.