Selling packaged food Product in India? Your labels will face an FSSAI food label audit during licensing, inspections, random sampling, or retailer checks. Many brands assume their labels are correct just because they look appealing.
But this mindset often leads to penalties, improvement notices, or even license suspension. This FSSAI food label audit guide helps ensure your food label is fully compliant, audit-proof, and defensible.
Why FSSAI Label Audits Fail
Most audit failures occur due to preventable mistakes:
- Wrong product category under FSSAI
- Missing or incorrect declarations
- Unreadable or too small font size
- Misleading or unapproved claims
- Incorrect placement of mandatory details
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Who This Guide Helps
- FMCG startups and new food brands
- Private label and contract manufacturing businesses
- Importers, exporters, and distributors
- Snack, beverage, dairy, bakery, and health supplement brands
- Any team preparing for an FSSAI audit checklist review
What Inspectors Actually Check
Inspectors don’t just see if a label “looks complete.” They follow strict steps to ensure food label compliance in India:
- Correct category under FSS standards
- All mandatory declarations present
- Correct order and placement of elements
- Font size ≥1 mm and readable
- Accurate nutritional information and QUID
- Claims are verifiable (protein, immunity, probiotic, etc.)
- Batch, barcode, and traceability check
- Artwork clarity, contrast, and layout
- No misleading or non-approved visuals
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Mandatory FSSAI Label Checklist (23-Point Audit Table)
Use this 23-point FSSAI checklist for packaged foods to pre-audit your labels:
| Requirement | Yes / No | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Category Verified | ||
| Food Product Name Correct | ||
| Ingredients Listed Properly | ||
| QUID % Declared | ||
| Allergens Correct | ||
| Nutrition Accurate | ||
| Claims Verified | ||
| Font Size Correct | ||
| FSSAI License Number Displayed | ||
| FSSAI Logo Correct | ||
| Manufacturer Name & Address Listed | ||
| Net Quantity Displayed | ||
| Date Marking Correct | ||
| Batch / Lot Number Present | ||
| Instructions for Use Clear | ||
| Storage Conditions Accurate | ||
| Additives & INS Numbers Correct | ||
| Health & Nutrient Claims Verified | ||
| Warning Statements Included | ||
| Language Requirement Met | ||
| Artwork Layout & Readability | ||
| Barcode / Traceability Check | ||
| Regulation Reference Verified |
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Final Audit-Proof Checklist
Before printing, verify your label against this audit-proof checklist to ensure full food label compliance India:
-
- All 23 mandatory declarations verified
- Nutrition and allergen accuracy confirmed
- Font size & readability checked
- Claims substantiated with lab reports
- FSSAI license & logo displayed correctly
- Artwork clear, readable, and regulation-compliant
- Barcode and batch number traceable
- Language and legal metrology compliance ensured
Learn: How To Register Your Functional Food Or Nutraceutical Product with FSSAI?
Food Label Audit & Compliance Review
Before printing or launching your food packaging, it is essential to conduct a Food Label Audit to ensure full compliance with FSSAI Labelling Rules and applicable legal standards. A structured label audit helps prevent regulatory notices, product recalls, export rejections, and costly reprints.
Our experts perform a detailed label compliance review aligned with current food FSSAI labelling laws and audit expectations.
Get Your Food Label Audited Website: Foodsure.co.in Email: wecare@foodsure.in
Food Label Audit Scope Includes
- Verification of FSSAI food labeling compliance
- Review of nutrition facts table (format, values, rounding rules)
- Validation of ingredient list order and allergen declarations
- Assessment of claims (nutritional, health, functional, marketing)
- Check of mandatory statutory declarations
- Review of label panel placement and font size compliance
Conclusion
An FSSAI Food Audit is not just a design check. It ensures your product remains compliant, legally defensible, and market-ready. Follow this step-by-step FSSAI label audit process and the 23-point checklist to avoid penalties, ensure FSSAI compliant label design, and prevent common food label mistakes brands make.
Need Expert Help With FSSAI Labelling or Compliance?
Foodsure assists brands in building FSSAI-compliant labels, conducting pre-launch audits, and ensuring that packaging meets regulatory and legal metrology requirements. Our experts help you prevent penalties and ensure smooth approvals.
What We Help You Solve
- End-to-end FSSAI label review & correction
- Nutritional panel accuracy & ingredient validation
- Claim verification & regulatory compliance
- Artwork layout, readability & packaging compliance check
- How to Do a Food Label Audit
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- Startups preparing for market launch
- FMCG brands requiring compliance alignment
- Private label, co-manufacturing & D2C sellers
- Importers, exporters & institutional suppliers
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1. What is an FSSAI label audit and why is it important?
An FSSAI label audit checks whether your food packaging complies with Indian food labeling regulations, ensuring legal defensibility, regulatory compliance, and market readiness.
Q2. Which mandatory details must appear on a food label in India?
Mandatory details include product name, ingredient list, nutritional information, FSSAI license number, net quantity, batch or lot number, and date of manufacture or expiry.
Q3. How can I make my food label FSSAI-compliant?
Ensure all mandatory declarations are present, font sizes are readable, claims are verifiable, nutritional values are accurate, and packaging follows current FSSAI guidelines.
Q4. What are common mistakes that fail FSSAI audits?
Common mistakes include missing or incorrect ingredient lists, wrong product category, unverified claims, inaccurate nutrition data, and poor font size or label readability.
Q5. How often do FSSAI label inspections occur?
Inspections may occur during licensing, routine market surveillance, retailer checks, or randomly. Frequency varies based on product category and regional enforcement.
Q6. What penalties can result from non-compliant labels?
Penalties may include monetary fines, improvement notices, product recalls, or suspension or cancellation of the FSSAI license depending on the severity of non-compliance.
Q7. Do nutritional claims need lab verification in India?
Yes. Nutritional and health claims such as protein, sugar, fat, fiber, or probiotics must be supported by certified laboratory testing to meet FSSAI requirements.
Q8. How do I calculate QUID percentages for my product?
QUID (Quantitative Ingredient Declaration) is calculated as the percentage of a highlighted ingredient used in the product relative to the total product weight.
Q9. Which packaging elements are checked during an FSSAI audit?
Inspectors review label placement, font size, ingredient lists, additives, allergen declarations, nutritional facts, claims, barcodes, and statutory declarations.
Q10. Can a consultant help me prepare for FSSAI label compliance?
Yes. A food compliance consultant can assist with formulation review, label design, claim validation, documentation, and audit preparation to ensure smooth FSSAI approval.