India’s food safety regulator is preparing stricter labelling rules for chocolate products to clearly differentiate between real chocolate and products made with vegetable fats. The move is aimed at improving transparency for consumers in the country’s growing chocolate market.
Under the proposed changes, manufacturers will be required to clearly label products containing vegetable fats as “imitation chocolate” on the front of the package. The label would need to be displayed prominently in a font size comparable to the brand name so that consumers can easily identify the product type while purchasing.
Food safety authorities say many chocolate-like products sold in India use cheaper substitutes such as palm oil or hydrogenated vegetable fats instead of cocoa butter. These ingredients can currently make up a significant portion of such products, but the distinction is often mentioned only in small print on the back of packaging.
Officials believe the new rule will help consumers make informed choices and prevent confusion between premium cocoa-butter chocolate and lower-cost alternatives. Industry experts say the proposal
