In India, FSSAI labelling errors are one of the leading causes of food product rejection that transforms a good launch into an expensive failure. Founders spend lakhs on food formulation and production, and the batches are disapproved because of such minute details as font sizes or absent logos. In the compliance-driven business world today, consumers read labels, retailers check the packaging, and online stores check regulations before they put a product on a shelf; a single mistake on FSSAI labelling can block your way to the shelves.
Lots of business people believe that labels are included in their FSSAI license. The reality, though, is that License and label compliance are not synonymous: one puts you into business, the other has products sold.
This blog reveals the most frequent FSSAI labelling errors resulting in product rejection, the reasons why such errors occur when developing a food product and provides a practical checklist that helps in rectifying the frequent labelling errors before printing thousands of products.
Why FSSAI Labelling Mistakes Are Costing Founders Lakhs?
The packaged food industry is a booming industry in India, though the expectations are high. Customers are becoming health-conscious and may be inspecting ingredients and claims through apps. BigBasket and Amazon are applying label checks, and FSSAI inspections are increasing since the 2026 changes. What used to be a design consideration is now a matter of survival in the context of food product development.
One FSSAI labelling error stimulates:
- Batch losses: 5-15 lakhs of lost inventory and re-packing.
- Lateness in launch: 2-6 months, out of season at peak time, such as Diwali or summer.
- Retailer rejections: The sites cancel the non-compliant listings.
- Penalties (fines and risks): Up to 10 lakhs in penalties or loss of license.
- Trust decay: Allergen lapses give rise to complaints and recalls.
These problems occur in mass production, when the cost of fixes is 10 times higher. In startups or pan-India brands, it is not a luxury, but a necessity to know the FSSAI labelling requirements of packaged foods 2026; it is your growth insurance against the usual packaged food labelling pitfalls.
The Common Misconception About “Just Making It Look Good”
FSSAI does not pre-authorise labels. You are self-certified under the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 (2026 amendments). Proprietors believe that professional design = approval, whereas the check of 50+ rules is done by the inspectors: 1.5mm fonts, DD/MM/YY dates, bold allergens.
Precision cannot be achieved with visual polish. Even with shining branding, a smooth energy drink logo (resulting from flawless food formulation) gets axed due to loss of colour or because of English-only text.
Step-by-Step: Checklist to Find and Correct FSSAI Labelling Errors
Audit labels that are pre-printed with this framework. Check against rules to print full-sized samples and eliminate the major FSSAI labelling errors.
Checklist on FSSAI Labelling Mistakes
| S.No. | Common Mistakes | Why Products Get Rejected | How to Avoid FSSAI Label Rejection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Font < 1.5mm height | Illegible from shelf distance | Use Arial or sans-serif font > 1.5mm with high contrast |
| 2 | Missing FSSAI Logo / License | No legal proof of compliance | Print 14-digit license number and FSSAI logo on all panels |
| 3 | Wrong Date Format (MM/DD) | Consumer confusion risk | Use DD/MM/YY for <3 months shelf life; Month-Year for longer |
| 4 | Buried Allergen Information | Potential health hazard | Clearly state “Contains: Milk/Nuts” in a separate box |
| 5 | No Veg / Non-Veg Symbol | Ethical and regulatory failure | Use green dot (veg) or brown dot (non-veg) on all sides |
| 6 | Incomplete Nutrition Panel | Missing %RDA values | Declare nutrition per 100g/ml with Indian RDA values |
| 7 | English-Only Text | Regional consumer exclusion | Use bilingual labels: English + Hindi or local language |
| 8 | Poor Contrast or Fading | Unreadable during storage | Maintain strong black-white contrast for readability |
| 9 | Missing Manufacturer Details | No traceability | Mention full address and valid FSSAI license number |
| 10 | Unproven Claims (“Sugar-Free”) | Misleading and illegal | Make only lab-verified, regulation-approved claims |
Where the Most FSSAI Labelling Errors Occur?
The most prevalent labelling errors are due to hasty development of food products, rather than ill intentions:
- Design before formulation: Labels do not change, ingredients do.
- Duplicated web templates: Incorrect nutrition or dates.
- Space-saving skips: Allergens fine print no bilingual.
- Unproven statements: Healthy devoid of boundaries.
- Font/position oversights: Fashionable and non-conformist.
These are found in audits, distributors, retailers, and labs, which compel responses over planning.
Why Label Ties to Your Entire Product Process?
Food formulation is indicated in labels. Recipe modifications require changes in ingredients, nutrition and assertions. Considerate early in food product development:
Recipe finalisation → Nutrition test label design.
What Really Works for Founders?
Scale-ready brands Formula Compliance Print Scale-ready brands are created to avoid the typical labelling errors:
- Recipes for lock, NABL laboratory validation
- Checklist claims and FSSAI thresholds
- Arm’s-length test of readability
- Bilingual from draft one
- Pre-print peer/expert review
- 2026 front-of-pack sugar warning, QR nutrition, certified vegan
How Foodsure Supports Mistake-Free Labelling?
Foodsure collaborates with 300+ enterprises to identify errors in FSSAI labelling at the initial level of developing food products, aligning recipes, developing compliant panels, and gearing up audits. Lakhs of font slips or date mistakes are saved unobtrusively.
The Founder’s Takeaway
Design flaws are not common FSSAI labelling mistakes, but just risks that can prevent scale. A checklist per week ensures cash flow, schedules and credibility. Labelling as a compliance makes obstacles into opportunities.
Are you ready to fix your labels?
FAQs
What is the font size of FSSAI labels?
Height Arial/sans serif 1.5mm on a contrasting background.
What is the date format that is accepted by FSSAI?
DD/MM/YY of 3 months or less shelf life; Month-Year of greater.
How to label allergens on the labels?
Bold separate box: Contains: Nuts, Milk, Soy- not listed in ingredient list.
What would transpire in case there are mistakes in the label?
Consignment rejection, loss of 5- 15 lakh, 2- 6 months delay, fines of up to 10 lakhs.
Will it be possible to write Sugar Free without evidence?
No, requires a NABL lab test, which shows under 0.5g sugar/100g.
What are the 2026 labelling changes?
Health warnings on the front package, QR nutritional labels, and certified vegan claims.
What is the home method of testing the accuracy of the label?
Print sample, position 1m in the air, should be able to read FSSAI number, expiry and allergens.
