A drink says “zero sugar.” A snack says “no added sugar.” Before assuming they answer the same question, turn the pack around and check what the claim sits beside.
Read the nutrition panel and ingredients together
Total sugars and added sugars are separate entries to look for. Then read the ingredient list for what supplies sweetness. Do not assume that a sugar claim means the product contains no sweetener.
This guide is a reading checklist, not a substitute for the current legal conditions for a claim. FSSAI publishes the relevant labelling rules. Use the latest regulation and exact product category when checking legal compliance.
Sources: FSSAI: Labelling and Display Regulations compendium, April 2025
Compare the same amount
A small stated serving can make a number look different from a whole bottle or packet. Compare per 100 g or 100 ml where available, then calculate the amount you expect to consume.
Fictional example: a 250 ml drink lists 4 g total sugars per 100 ml. The whole bottle contains 10 g on that basis. This arithmetic says nothing about another flavour, a reformulated pack or a product with a different serving size.
Sources: FSSAI: Labelling and Display Regulations compendium, April 2025
Do not give honey or fruit imagery a free pass
Read the named ingredients even when the front shows fruit, dates or a honey dipper. The image does not supply a quantity, a full recipe or an independent nutrition assessment.
If a compound ingredient is not broken down, note the missing information. “The fruit preparation is not fully listed” is a precise observation. “It must contain hidden sugar” adds a claim you have not established.
A new recipe needs a new comparison
Companies reformulate products across different markets. PepsiCo’s October update gives examples, but it does not verify the label of every Indian packet.
Check the country, flavour, pack and date of each image you use. If you have two versions, retain both. Do not quietly attach the older nutrition photo to the newer ingredient list.
Sources: PepsiCo: portfolio reformulation update, 13 October 2026
Finish with the question you came to answer
If you are reducing sugar, compare the relevant numbers in your usual portion. If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the full declaration. If you want an independent batch result, read the report’s batch and date.
Each is a different check. A favourable result on one does not make the others unnecessary. Our library keeps ingredient scores separate from public lab-report status for that reason.
Sources and further reading
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