Central Idea

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended the incorporation of QR codes on food products, a significant step toward ensuring food safety and accessibility, especially for visually impaired individuals.
This move holds paramount importance in a country with one of the world’s largest markets for packaged foods and a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), largely driven by the consumption of pre-packaged foods.

QR Code move by FSSAI

Comprehensive Data: QR codes will contain extensive product information, including ingredients, nutritional facts, allergens, manufacturing date, best before/expiry/use-by date, allergen warnings, and customer contact information.
Compliance: This initiative aligns with the FSSAI’s Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, emphasizing accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Invention: QR codes, two-dimensional matrix barcodes, was invented in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave for labelling automobile parts.
Enhancing Brand Image: For food manufacturers, QR codes offer advantages such as improving brand image, fostering customer loyalty, and enhancing operational efficiency.

India’s Market Dynamics: India’s burgeoning market for packaged foods, coupled with a surge in NCDs, underscores the need for informed consumer choices.
Consumer Rights: The initiative empowers consumers to make informed decisions and verify if the product aligns with its advertised attributes.
Front-of-Pack Labelling: The FSSAI is urged to combine QR codes for visually impaired individuals with front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) warning labels, ensuring a comprehensive approach.

Top Users: Countries like the U.S., India, France, and the U.K. are among the leading users of QR codes.
Market Growth: The global packaged food market, estimated at $303.26 billion in 2019, continues to expand, with QR codes playing a pivotal role in providing consumers with essential product information.
Consumer Preference: Consumers increasingly consider food packaging as important as the product itself, with QR codes serving as a technology that enhances information accessibility and influences buying behaviour.

The introduction of QR codes on food products by the FSSAI is a crucial step toward enhancing food safety and ensuring consumers have access to comprehensive product information.
In an era of rising health concerns and growing markets for packaged foods, this initiative empowers consumers to make informed choices and underscores the importance of clear food labelling.
QR codes are emerging as a global trend, simplifying information access and improving consumer experiences.