FSSAI (India’s food safety authority) has proposed new labelling rules in 2025 that will change how milk and other dairy products show information on their packs. Here’s the easy version of what’s coming and how it affects everyday dairy items.
The big changes at a glance
● A clear dairy logo on all milk and milk-based products.
● Bigger, bolder display of “added sugar,” “saturated fat,” and “sodium” percentages.
● More predictable timelines for when new labels must be used.
1) A simple “dairy” logo on packs
● What it is: A small, easy-to-spot logo (typically a milk drop in a blue square) that shows the product is made from milk.
● Where it shows: On the front label of milk, curd, yoghurt, butter, ghee, cheese, flavoured milk, ice cream, and other milk-based items.
● Why it helps: It makes it easier to tell real dairy products from lookalikes or plant-based products at a quick glance.
What brands should do:
● Add the logo in the size required for the pack. Smaller packs can use a smaller logo; bigger packs need a bigger logo.
● Check if composite items (like fruit yoghurt) still count as dairy — most will.
2) Bigger, bolder nutrition warnings for key nutrients
● What changes: Labels must clearly show how much “added sugar,” “saturated fat,” and “sodium” a serving contains — as a bold percentage of the daily limit (RDA).
● Why this matters: It helps shoppers quickly see if a product is high in sugar, salt, or fat.
Dairy products likely to be most affected:
● Flavoured milk, lassi, yoghurt drinks, ice cream, dairy desserts: added sugar will be highlighted.
● Cheese, butter, ghee: saturated fat % will stand out.
● Salted buttermilk, processed cheese: sodium % will be clearer.
What brands should do:
● Update the nutrition panel to include bold % values for these three nutrients.
● Re-check health claims so they don’t clash with the new bold numbers.
3) More predictable rollout timelines
● What this means: FSSAI is moving towards fixed annual dates to make it easier for companies to plan packaging changes.
● Why it helps: Brands can plan printing, stocks, and design changes in time and avoid last-minute rushes.
What this means for shoppers
● Easier to spot real dairy with the logo.
● Faster understanding of how “sweet,” “salty,” or “fatty” a product is.
● Better comparison between similar products (for example, two yoghurt drinks).
What this means for dairy brands
● Start preparing new label designs now (logo placement + bold sugar/salt/fat %).
● Prioritize products with higher sugar or fat first (they’ll be most sensitive on shelf).
● Plan inventory and reprints around the expected enforcement windows.
● Train sales teams and distributors to explain the new labels clearly.
Simple examples
● Flavoured milk: Will show a bold % for added sugar and saturated fat; must carry the dairy logo.
● Curd/yoghurt: Plain curd will show saturated fat; sweetened or flavoured variants will show bold added sugar too.
● Cheese/butter/ghee: Expect a bold saturated fat %.
● Ice cream: Bold added sugar and saturated fat; logo required if classified as a milk product.
A practical checklist for dairy companies
● Add the dairy logo to all milk/milk-based SKUs.
● Update nutrition panels to show bold % for added sugar, saturated fat, sodium.
● Build a size/placement guide for different pack sizes.
● Audit all SKUs and prioritize high-sugar and high-fat items.
● Align artwork and print timelines with upcoming enforcement dates.
● Prepare simple consumer education: “What does %RDA mean?” and “How to read our new label.”