The quickest quality check for any packaged food happens before you open it. Indian food labels are required to carry key information, and knowing where to look takes less than a minute.
The label checklist
- FSSAI logo and 14 digit licence number: this shows the food business is licensed or registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
- Ingredient list: ingredients are listed in descending order of weight, so the first item is the main one. For noodles, this tells you whether the base is atta, suji, rice or maida.
- Date of manufacture or packing, and Best Before or Use By date.
- Net quantity, so you can compare packs fairly.
- Veg or non-veg mark: a green dot in a square for vegetarian food.
- Nutrition information per 100 g, useful for comparing similar products.
- Allergen information, for example wheat (gluten) or soya.
- Storage instructions and the manufacturer or marketer's name and address.
Check the pack itself
- The seal should be intact, with no tears, pinholes or re-taped edges.
- There should be no moisture, oily patches or clumping visible through a window pack.
- Printing should be clear and the dates should not look altered.
How to verify an FSSAI number
FSSAI provides a public search on its Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) website where you can enter a licence or registration number to see the business it belongs to.
Quick answers
- Where is the FSSAI number on a food pack?
- It is printed next to the FSSAI logo, usually on the back or side panel, as a 14 digit number.
- What does the order of ingredients mean?
- Ingredients are listed from the largest amount to the smallest by weight, so the first ingredient is the main one.