India-UK food comparison reveals differences in Fanta, Maggi and KitKat formulations

NEW DELHI: When it comes to packaged food, the recipe for success may not be the same everywhere. A recent Reuters report has highlighted significant differences between some popular food and beverage products sold in India and their counterparts in markets such as the UK and Australia, putting the spotlight on ingredients, sugar levels and nutritional labelling.

One of the most striking examples is Fanta. A can of Fanta sold in London contains 63 calories, while the Indian version has roughly three times the amount of sugar. The Indian product also contains an artificial colour that requires more prominent health-warning disclosure in Europe. In India, the colour is listed in smaller print on the back of the pack.

The comparison raises questions about how multinational food and beverage companies formulate products for different markets, and how much information consumers receive about what is inside the packet or can.

Maggi, another globally recognised brand, also has different formulations depending on the market.

Reuters reported that all variants of Nestlé India’s Maggi instant noodles sold in India use palm oil, while many versions sold in Britain use sunflower oil.

The report also noted that some Maggi packets sold in the UK are manufactured in India but carry red front-of-pack labels indicating high salt levels under British labelling rules.

That creates an unusual contrast: a product made in India can carry a more prominent nutritional warning when sold in Britain than the same or similar product sold domestically.

The differences extend to confectionery. Reuters reported that the Indian-standard KitKat contains 4.5 per cent cocoa solids, compared with at least 22 per cent cocoa in the milk chocolate used in the Australian version.

Such differences are not necessarily unusual for multinational food companies. Recipes can vary between countries because of local regulations, consumer tastes, ingredient availability and production costs.

The findings come as India’s packaged food sector faces growing scrutiny over how nutritional information is presented to consumers.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been at the centre of a debate over front-of-pack nutritional labelling, particularly for products containing high levels of sugar, salt and saturated fat.

Instead of adopting prominent warning symbols, the regulator has proposed displaying nutrient values alongside recommended daily limits and serving sizes.

The approach has faced questions over whether consumers should receive clearer warnings about potentially unhealthy levels of nutrients before buying a product, rather than having to interpret figures printed on the packaging.

The issue has also reached the Supreme Court of India. On August 13, the court gave the Centre two weeks to place its final decision on front-of-pack warnings on record and questioned whether industry pressure was influencing the regulatory process.

Reuters reported that industry representatives had opposed an earlier colour-coded warning proposal during a March meeting with FSSAI, arguing that such labels could be confusing and ineffective.

The report also highlighted differences in labelling practices across markets. The Coca-Cola Company and Nestlé use interpretive labelling systems in some overseas markets, while their products in India operate under the country’s existing regulatory framework.

The debate is unfolding alongside wider regulatory action against misleading food claims.

FSSAI said this month that it had issued more than 150 notices to food companies in recent months over misleading advertisements, false claims and labelling non-compliance. The action has included notices involving major companies such as Nestlé India, PepsiCo India and Coca-Cola India.

The regulatory scrutiny has also resulted in changes to products sold in India.

Nestlé announced in 2024 that it would introduce sugar-free Cerelac variants in the country following criticism over the presence of added sugar in its baby-food products.

The India-versus-UK comparisons therefore arrive at a time when the country’s packaged food industry is facing a broader question: how much should consumers know, and how prominently should they be told?

For consumers, the issue goes beyond whether a familiar product tastes slightly different from one bought abroad. It is increasingly about the ingredients, nutritional profile and warnings that appear on the pack. As India considers its final approach to front-of-pack labelling, the debate over what goes into the recipe is now being matched by a second question: how clearly should it be written on the label?