Lesson 5 of 5
Indian dietary guidelines: who says what
Direct answer: In India, ICMR-NIN (the National Institute of Nutrition) publishes the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, last revised in 2024 with 17 guidelines. FSSAI, the food regulator, sets rules for food labels and claims. ICMR-NIN's 2024 guidelines also refer to WHO's sugar advice. All are free to read online.
What do the 17 ICMR-NIN guidelines cover?
Topics including a varied, balanced diet, vegetables and legumes, cooking oils, protein, physical activity, salt, safe food, cooking methods, water, limiting HFSS (fat, sugar, salt) and ultra-processed foods, and reading food labels.
What does FSSAI do?
It sets standards and labelling rules for packaged food, including the nutrition panel and claims (Module 6).
Where does WHO come in?
ICMR-NIN's 2024 guidelines note that WHO is considering reducing calories from sugar to under 5% a day.
FAQ
Which should I follow?
Use ICMR-NIN for eating patterns and FSSAI labels for choosing packaged foods.
Are the guidelines personal advice?
No. They are for the general population; a dietitian can tailor them.
Further reading
Sources
- ICMR-NIN Expert Committee, Dietary Guidelines for Indians-2024 (DGI 2024), nin.res.in/dietaryguidelines/pdfjs/locale/DGI_2024.pdf, contents (guideline titles), PDF pp. 8–9; '17 dietary guidelines', foreword, PDF p. 14; WHO sugar note, Guideline 15, PDF p. 111 / printed p. 94
- FSSAI, Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, fssai.gov.in
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The Balanced Diet: all 5 lessons
General education, not medical advice.
Educational content, not medical advice. Checked against FSSAI and ICMR-NIN sources by Team Snactivate. For personal advice, consult a doctor or dietitian.