FSSAI proposes ban on added sugars in infant foods: Why it wants to act and how sucrose, fructose can harm babies

India’s food regulator, FSSAI, proposes banning the addition of sucrose and fructose to infant nutrition products intended for babies from birth through six months. The measure is designed to reduce exposure to added sugars during a sensitive period of growth and development. It would tighten rules that currently permit these sugars when needed as carbohydrate sources and within set limits.

For example, a manufacturer could no longer list sucrose, the scientific name for table sugar, or fructose as an added ingredient in a product for this age group. The restriction concerns added ingredients, not the natural presence of these sugars in foods such as fruits or vegetables.

The proposal is not yet final. FSSAI published the draft amendment in the Gazette of India on October 16, 2026, and invited objections and suggestions for 60 days. The ban would take effect only after the amendment is finalised and officially notified.

Sucrose and fructose are carbohydrates, but they are not identical substances. Sucrose is the scientific name for table sugar. Fructose is another sugar found naturally in fruit, honey, agave and many root vegetables. The article also notes that sucrose occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables and grains.

The important difference is often how they reach the diet. In whole foods, these sugars occur as part of the food itself. In processed products, manufacturers may add them as ingredients. Sucrose is commonly extracted from sugar cane or sugar beets, while fructose is often added through high fructose corn syrup.

FSSAI’s proposal focuses on added sucrose and fructose in products for infants up to six months. It does not describe naturally occurring sugars in whole foods as the target. The concern is exposure to added sugars during early development, rather than the mere existence of these carbohydrates in nature.

FSSAI has opened a 60-day period for objections and suggestions from stakeholders. The clock began when the draft notification was published in the Gazette of India on October 16, 2026. This consultation allows manufacturers, health experts and other interested parties to submit representations before the regulator decides whether to finalise the amendment.

The proposed restriction applies to food products intended for infants from birth up to six months of age. This is narrower than the wider regulatory framework, which sets standards for infant nutrition products intended for children from birth through 24 months.

The distinction matters because the proposal targets the earliest period specifically. The current rules cover multiple product categories across a broader age range, while the draft would prohibit added sucrose and fructose for products made for the youngest infants. The change becomes binding only after finalisation and official notification.

The article identifies both immediate and longer-term concerns when young infants consume high levels of added sugar. Immediate dental risks include tooth decay and cavities. These effects matter because dental problems can begin early, even before broader health consequences become visible.

Over time, the article links early high-sugar exposure with childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes caused by insulin resistance. These are described as longer-term health concerns rather than certain outcomes for every child. The wider public-health concern is that early dietary patterns may create risk factors connected with these problems.

FSSAI’s proposed restriction aims to reduce this exposure in infant nutrition products. It aligns with broader public-health efforts to address added sugar and complements recommendations supporting exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months. The proposal would not become part of the regulatory framework unless FSSAI considers consultation responses and officially notifies the final amendment.

FSSAI places special emphasis on the first six months because it describes this period as critical for healthy growth and development. The regulator wants products for young infants to match their age-specific nutritional requirements. Reducing added sugars is presented as one way to strengthen infant nutrition standards during this early stage.

The proposal also complements public-health recommendations that promote exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months. If infant nutrition products are used, the draft would require manufacturers to avoid adding sucrose and fructose to products intended for this age group. The goal is to minimise exposure to added sugars at the earliest stages of life.

The broader implication is a stronger focus on appropriate feeding practices. The rules already cover nutrition, quality and safety across infant products from birth to 24 months. The amendment would create a tighter standard for products made specifically for the youngest infants, subject to consultation and final notification.

Current FSSAI rules identify lactose and glucose polymers as the preferred carbohydrate sources for infant nutrition products. The article does not provide a detailed physiological explanation for that preference. It does show that the regulator treats these sources as the main options within its age-based nutrition standards.

Under the existing framework, sucrose and fructose may be added only when required as carbohydrate sources and only within prescribed limits. The proposed amendment would remove that allowance for products intended for infants up to six months. In practical terms, manufacturers would need to formulate these products without added sucrose or fructose.

The change would tighten an existing hierarchy rather than replace all carbohydrates. Lactose and glucose polymers would remain the preferred alternatives under the rules described. FSSAI says the aim is to ensure formulations match age-appropriate nutritional requirements and minimise added-sugar exposure during early life. The final position depends on the consultation and official notification.

Carbohydrates generally provide energy that the body uses for activity, organ function and growth. The body breaks many carbohydrates down into glucose, which cells can use as fuel. Infants also need nutrients in proportions suited to rapid development. These general biological points are not detailed in the article, but they explain why age-specific formulation matters.

Infant nutrition products are therefore not simply ordinary processed foods in smaller portions. Their ingredients and nutrient levels must fit an infant’s developmental stage. In the article’s regulatory framework, lactose and glucose polymers are preferred carbohydrate sources, while sucrose and fructose may be used only when required and within limits.

FSSAI wants to tighten that approach for babies up to six months by prohibiting added sucrose and fructose. The intended mechanism is straightforward: manufacturers would need to rely on permitted, age-appropriate formulations rather than adding these sugars. The draft remains subject to a 60-day consultation before any final notification.