Coffee-Chicory Mixture Gets Simpler Labelling: FSSAI's New Direction for Food Businesses

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a significant direction regarding the labelling requirements for Coffee-Chicory mixtures, providing much-needed relief to food businesses, particularly manufacturers of small retail packs. The revised direction addresses practical challenges faced by the industry while ensuring that consumers continue to receive clear information about the composition of the product.

Why this direction issued?

The Food Safety Standards (Labelling and Display) First Amendment Regulations, 2025 had made it mandatory for coffee-chicory mixtures to carry a declaration on the front of the package, with enforcement scheduled from 1 July 2026. However, after receiving representations from industry stakeholders, FSSAI acknowledged that complying with the prescribed boxed declaration was particularly difficult for small packs having a Principal Display Panel (PDP) of less than 100 cm².

Recognising these practical constraints, the Authority has decided to keep the earlier notification in abeyance until the amendment to the regulations is formally notified.

What is the revised requirement?

Until the amended regulations are notified, manufacturers of coffee-chicory mixtures may use a simpler declaration on the front of the package indicating the percentage of coffee and chicory.

The declaration should be in the following format:

COFFEE …… % CHICORY …… %

This requirement applies to:

• Coffee and chicory mixtures; and

• Instant coffee-chicory mixtures prepared from blends of coffee and chicory.

Font size requirements

FSSAI has also prescribed minimum font sizes to ensure readability:

• 1 mm minimum font height for most packages.

• 2 mm minimum font height where the Principal Display Panel (PDP) exceeds 100 cm².

When will the direction come into effect?

The revised direction will come into force on 1 July 2027, thereby providing food businesses with additional time to comply with the final amended labelling requirements.

What does this mean for Food Business Operators?

This direction offers several practical benefits:

• Additional time to prepare for the revised regulatory framework.

• Simplified front-of-pack declarations, especially for smaller packages.

• Reduced packaging redesign challenges during the transition period.

• Continued transparency for consumers by clearly displaying the percentage of coffee and chicory.

Conclusion

FSSAI's latest direction reflects a balanced regulatory approach by considering the operational challenges faced by the food industry while maintaining consumer awareness. Manufacturers dealing with coffee-chicory products should review their existing labels and adopt the simplified declaration format until the amended regulations are formally notified.

Food Business Operators are advised to monitor future notifications from FSSAI to ensure timely compliance before the revised requirements become fully effective.

Source: FSSAI Direction dated 21 July 2026 on Food Safety Standards (Labelling and Display) First Amendment Regulations, 2025 related to labelling requirements of Coffee-Chicory Mixture.- Check here

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