Research shows that most shoppers in India don’t understand nutrition labels well, but they want clearer ones anyway. According to a 2026 study of 112 Indian grocery shoppers, people prefer labels with simple colors, readable text, and symbols that explain what nutrition facts mean, rather than just numbers. Almost all participants said labels should be mandatory on all packaged foods, and labels should be available in multiple languages to help India’s diverse population make healthier food choices.
Researchers in India asked 112 shoppers what they want to see on food package labels to help them make healthier choices. Most people said they don’t understand nutrition information very well, especially those with less education or lower income. People mostly buy foods based on habit, taste, and what friends recommend, not health facts. The study found that simple labels with clear colors, symbols, and easy-to-read text work best. Experts say India needs to teach people about nutrition at the same time labels are introduced, and labels should be available in multiple languages to help everyone make better food choices.
Key Statistics
A 2026 qualitative study of 112 grocery shoppers in India found that nutrition literacy was low in most participants, particularly those with lower education and income levels, making clear food labels essential for informed choices.
According to research reviewed by Gram analyzing 16 focus group discussions with 112 Indian shoppers, nearly all participants (almost 100%) wanted front-of-pack labels to be mandatory on all packaged foods to help guide purchasing decisions.
A 2026 Indian study of 112 regular grocery shoppers revealed that interpretive labels with colors, symbols, and simple text were strongly preferred over labels with numbers alone, with participants frequently misinterpreting symbols without supporting text.
Research from 112 Indian consumers showed that food purchases were primarily guided by habit, taste, and brand trust rather than nutrition information, except among those following special diets for health conditions.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How should food package labels be designed so people in India can understand and use nutrition information to pick healthier foods?
- Who participated: 112 adults from two regions in India who regularly buy groceries for their families. The group included people with different education levels, income levels, and backgrounds to get a full picture of what shoppers need.
- Key finding: Most shoppers don’t understand nutrition labels well, but they want them anyway. Labels with simple colors, clear symbols, and easy text work much better than complicated numbers alone. Almost everyone said labels should be required on all packaged foods.
- What it means for you: If you shop for food in India or similar countries, clearer labels could help you make healthier choices. However, labels alone won’t work, people also need education about what nutrition information means. This is especially important for people with less schooling or lower income.
The Research Details
Researchers held 16 group discussions with 112 grocery shoppers across two regions in India. They carefully selected people with different backgrounds, different genders, education levels, income levels, and neighborhoods, to make sure they heard from everyone. During these discussions, researchers asked people about what foods they buy, why they buy them, and what they’d want to see on food labels. They recorded and analyzed everything people said, looking for common themes and patterns.
This approach, called a qualitative study, is perfect for understanding what people actually think and feel. Instead of just counting numbers, researchers listened to real stories about shopping habits and preferences. The researchers made sure to include people who might be overlooked, those with less education or lower income, because these groups often have the hardest time understanding food labels.
Understanding what real shoppers need is crucial before designing new labels. If experts just create labels without asking people what they understand, the labels might not help anyone. This study bridges that gap by asking actual shoppers what works for them. It’s especially important in India, where people speak many different languages and have very different levels of education and income.
This study is strong because it included diverse participants and asked open-ended questions that let people explain their thinking. The researchers were careful to include people who are often left out of research. However, the study only included 112 people in two regions, so the findings might not apply everywhere in India. The study also relied on what people said they do, not what they actually do when shopping. Despite these limits, the findings give valuable insight into what shoppers actually need.
What the Results Show
Gram Research analysis found that most shoppers in India have low nutrition literacy, they don’t understand nutrition information well. This was especially true for people with less education or lower income. When asked why they buy certain foods, people mentioned habit (“I always buy this brand”), taste, trust in the brand, and recommendations from family and friends. Only people following special diets for health reasons said nutrition information influenced their choices.
When shoppers looked at current nutrition labels, they often misunderstood them. Symbols and pictures without words were sometimes interpreted incorrectly. However, when researchers showed them labels with clear colors, readable text, and symbols together, people understood much better. Almost all participants (nearly 100%) said they wanted food labels to be mandatory on all packaged foods.
People preferred labels that not only showed nutrition facts but also explained what those facts meant in simple terms. For example, instead of just listing “sodium: 500mg,” a better label might say “High in salt” with a red color. Participants also emphasized that labels should be in multiple languages since India has many different language groups.
The study revealed that people buy a lot of packaged snacks, drinks, and ready-to-eat meals, even though they often don’t check nutrition information. Trust in a brand name was surprisingly important, people often stick with brands they know, even without checking if they’re healthy. The research also showed that people want nutrition information but feel confused by it, suggesting there’s a real gap between what’s available and what people can understand. Interestingly, people understood that labels could help them make better choices, even if they didn’t currently use them.
This study confirms what other research has found: simple, visual labels work better than complicated text-based labels. Previous studies in other countries showed that color-coded labels (like red, yellow, green) help people quickly understand if a food is healthy or not. This Indian study adds important context: it shows that in countries with lower average education levels and multiple languages, labels need to be even simpler and more visual. The finding that people rely on habit and brand trust rather than nutrition facts matches what researchers have found in many countries.
This study only included 112 people in two regions of India, so the findings might not represent all of India’s 1.4 billion people. The study asked people what they think they do when shopping, not what they actually do, people sometimes say they care about health but don’t act that way. The researchers didn’t test whether new labels would actually change what people buy over time. Finally, the study didn’t include very young people or very old people, so we don’t know if their preferences would be different.
The Bottom Line
Food labels in India should include: (1) Mandatory labels on all packaged foods, (2) Simple, clear text that’s easy to read, (3) Colors and symbols to quickly show if food is healthy or not, (4) Text in multiple languages, (5) Simple explanations of what nutrition facts mean, not just numbers. These recommendations have strong support from the shoppers studied. At the same time, India should launch education campaigns to teach people what nutrition information means. This combination of better labels plus education is most likely to help people make healthier choices.
This research matters most for people in India and similar countries with diverse languages and education levels. Food companies, government agencies, and health organizations should use these findings to design better labels. Shoppers with less education or lower income should especially benefit from clearer labels. However, people who already understand nutrition labels well won’t need as much help. This research is less relevant for countries where most people have high education levels and speak one language.
Don’t expect labels alone to change shopping habits overnight. Research shows that new labels typically take 6-12 months before people start using them regularly. The real change happens when labels are combined with education campaigns: that combination can shift shopping habits within 1-2 years. However, people with less education may need longer to adjust and learn what the labels mean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t people in India understand food labels?
Most people lack nutrition education and haven’t learned what terms like ‘sodium’ or ‘saturated fat’ mean. A 2026 study of 112 shoppers found nutrition literacy was especially low among those with less schooling or lower income. Labels with only numbers are confusing without explanation.
What kind of food label works best for people with low education?
Labels with colors (red, yellow, green), simple symbols, and easy-to-read text work much better than numbers alone. Research showed 112 Indian shoppers strongly preferred labels that explained what nutrition facts meant in simple language, rather than just listing facts.
Do people actually use nutrition labels when shopping?
Most people don’t, a 2026 study of 112 shoppers found purchases were guided by habit, taste, and brand trust. Only people following special diets for health reasons regularly checked nutrition information. Better labels plus education campaigns are needed to change this.
Should food labels be required in India?
According to research with 112 Indian grocery shoppers, almost everyone wanted labels to be mandatory. Researchers concluded that required labels, combined with nutrition education campaigns and multiple languages, would best help India’s diverse population make healthier choices.
How long does it take for new food labels to change shopping habits?
Research suggests 6-12 months for people to start using new labels regularly. Real behavior change typically takes 1-2 years when labels are combined with education campaigns. People with less education may need additional time to learn what labels mean.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Users can photograph food labels and log which label features they understood (colors, symbols, text, numbers). Track weekly: Did you understand the label? Did it influence your purchase? This creates a personal record of how labels affect real shopping decisions.
- When shopping, users can set a goal to pause and look at the label’s color or symbol before buying, even if they don’t read all the details. Start with just noticing the color (red/yellow/green) and asking: “Is this a healthy choice?” This simple habit takes 10 seconds but builds nutrition awareness.
- Monthly, users can review their label-reading habit: How many times did you check a label? Did you choose a different product based on the label? Track purchases of high-sugar or high-salt items to see if label awareness reduces unhealthy choices over 3-6 months.
This research reflects the perspectives of 112 shoppers in two Indian regions and may not represent all of India. The study asked what people think they do, not what they actually do when shopping. Food labels alone cannot replace medical advice or professional nutrition guidance. People with specific health conditions should consult healthcare providers about their diet. This research is informational and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease. Always read product labels and consult qualified health professionals for personalized nutrition advice.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.
