India, Sept. 23 -- From supermarket aisles to kitchen shelves, packaged foods have become a daily staple. But hidden in those colourful wrappers are sugars, salts, and fats driving India's epidemic of lifestyle diseases. Soon, every packet will carry a star rating and warning signs up front, making sure the risks are no longer tucked away in fine print. In a landmark step to fight lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, India is set to introduce a new food labelling system. By October, packaged foods could carry two key markers: the Indian Nutrition Rating (INR), a star-based score, and Front-of-Pack Nutrition Warning Labels (FOPNL). The move follows a Supreme Court directive, which asked the Centre to finalise food safety norms within three months after a PIL was filed by NGOs 3S and Our Health. Most shoppers only glance at the "manufactured" and "expiry" dates, skipping nutrition details that are crammed in fine print at the back. "Reading nutritional information is difficult for many, especially with low nutrition literacy," says Dr Poonam Tiwari, member of the National Allied Health Care Nutrition Professional Council. Her solution? Clearer visuals. "Colour-coded labels, symbols, and regional language information will help consumers quickly spot if a product is high in sugar, fat or sodium." The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is now working on the final design. According to Dr SubbaRao M Gavaravarapu, "The process takes three to six months. Draft regulations are prepared, stakeholders consulted, and the proposal moves through scientific panels before the ministry signs off." India's push for Front-of-Pack Labels dates back to 2018. Early attempts at red "high sugar/salt" warnings faced industry resistance. This time, the labels are expected to be simpler and more consumer-friendly. Globally, there are two approaches: Experts warn that stars can be misleading, consumers might think 2.5 stars is still "good enough". Warning labels, on the other hand, are harder to ignore. Inputs by Dr SubbaRao M Gavaravarapu, head of Nutrition Information at ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad...