Coffee chicory explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Part 2 of Schedule II (paragraph 2, "Specific requirements/restrictions on manner of labelling") sets product-specific label rules: what edible oil labels may not say and must say, the coffee-chicory declaration, a milk powder warning, claims barred on drinking water, the gluten claim and what a bread may be called.
The text is read as amended up to 24 March 2026 (FSSAI Compendium Version VIII dated 09.09.2025, which records amendments dated 10 September 2021, 9 September 2022, 11 October 2022 and 8 August 2025; the First Amendment Regulations, 2026 do not change this part). FSSAI compendia are reference consolidations and the Gazette text prevails. Later notifications should be checked on fssai.gov.in. Brands in these categories can have their labels checked through our FSSAI label compliance service.
An admixture of edible oils must carry "MULTI-SOURCE EDIBLE OIL" with the percentage of each oil and "NOT TO BE SOLD LOOSE". Coffee-chicory packages state both percentages on the front, in the substituted wording that the compendium says comes into force on 1st July, 2026 (a date that has passed). Whole wheat bread needs at least 75% whole wheat flour. Drinking water labels may not make medicinal or health claims.
2.1 Edible oils and fats
- No exaggerated expressions. The package, label or advertisement of edible refined vegetable oils and fats shall not use expressions such as "Super-Refined", "Extra-Refined", "Micro-Refined", "Double refined" or "Ultra-Refined".
- Vanaspati with rice bran oil. Every package of vanaspati made from more than 30 percent of rice bran oil shall bear: "This package of vanaspati is made from more than 30 per cent Rice bran oil by weight". Under (2A), where physically refined rice bran oil is used as an ingredient in vanaspati, it shall be declared in the ingredient list as "Physically Refined Rice Bran Oil".
- Annatto. A package containing annatto colour in vegetable oils shall bear "Contains Annatto colour".
- Admixture of edible oils. Every package containing an admixture of edible oils shall carry, in bold capital letters immediately below the brand name or trade name on the front of pack, "MULTI-SOURCE EDIBLE OIL" followed by the name and nature (raw or refined form) of each edible oil with its per cent by weight.
Font sizes for the multi-source declaration, as printed:
| Pack size | "MULTI-SOURCE EDIBLE OIL" | "Name and Nature of edible oil ... per cent. by weight" |
|---|---|---|
| Less than one litre | Not less than 3 mm, with the length of the statement 35 mm minimum | Not less than 2 mm |
| One litre to below 5 litre | Not less than 4 mm, with length 45 mm minimum | Not less than 2.5 mm |
| Five litre and above | Not less than 10 mm | Not less than 3 mm |
There shall also be, in bold capital letters with the name of the product on the front of pack, the declaration "NOT TO BE SOLD LOOSE". The product standards are in the article on edible oils, and fat limits are discussed in the post on FSSAI trans fat limits.
2.2 Coffee-chicory mixture
The compendium prints two versions. The earlier text required a label affixed to the package with "Coffee blended with Chicory / This mixture contains Coffee ... Percent / Chicory ... Percent", and for instant coffee-chicory "Instant Coffee-Chicory mixture made from blends of coffee and chicory" with the two percentages. A highlighted substitution (marked as inserted by the notification of 8 August 2025) replaces it, with a note: "This amendment shall come into force on 1st July, 2026". As that date has passed, the substituted text is the one that applies:
- (1) Every package of a mixture of coffee and chicory shall have the label declaration on the front of the package: "COFFEE BLENDED WITH CHICORY / THIS MIXTURE CONTAINS / COFFEE ... PERCENT / CHICORY ... PERCENT", or alternatively "COFFEE BLENDED WITH CHICORY / THIS MIXTURE CONTAINS / COFFEE ...%, CHICORY ...%".
- (2) Every package of Instant Coffee-Chicory mixture shall have on the front: "INSTANT COFFEE-CHICORY MIXTURE / MADE FROM BLENDS OF COFFEE AND CHICORY / COFFEE ... PERCENT / CHICORY ... PERCENT", or the shorter "COFFEE ...%, CHICORY ...%" form.
The product standards are in the sister article on tea, coffee and chicory.
2.3 Milk and milk products
All milk powders, skimmed milk powders and condensed milk (sweetened and flavoured) or similar products which can be reconstituted into liquid milk shall carry the declaration "NOT TO BE USED FOR INFANTS BELOW SIX MONTHS".
2.4 Drinking water (packaged and mineral)
- No claims concerning medicinal (preventative, alleviative or curative) effects shall be made for the properties of the product; claims of other beneficial effects related to the health of the consumer shall not be made.
- The name of a locality, hamlet or specified place may not form part of the trade name unless it refers to packaged water collected at the place designated by that trade name.
- Any statement or pictorial device that may create confusion or mislead the public about the nature, origin, composition and properties of such waters is prohibited.
2.5 The gluten claim
For products described in regulation 2.14 of the Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulations, 2011, the gluten claim wording given in the Schedule shall be printed in immediate proximity to the name of the product. Where a product bearing that claim is manufactured in a plant where gluten-containing products are also manufactured, the label shall declare: "Processed in a plant where gluten containing products are manufactured". The products themselves are covered in the sister article on gluten and hemp seed products.
2.6 Labelling of various types of bread
The nomenclature of the breads in column (2) shall comply with columns (3) and (4) of the table (marked as inserted by amendment). Entries as printed:
| Serial | Name of bread | Specialty ingredient | Minimum amount of specialty ingredient as % of flour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Wheat Bread | Whole wheat flour (Atta) | Whole wheat flour should be at least 75% |
| 2 | Wheat Bread or Brown Bread | Whole wheat flour (Atta) | Whole wheat flour should be at least 50% |
| 3 | White bread | Refined wheat flour (Maida) | - |
| 4 | Multigrain Bread | Food grains permitted under the Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulations, 2011 | Minimum 20% should be grains other than wheat* |
| 5(a) | Milk bread | Milk solids | 6% |
| 5(c) | Cheese bread | Cheese | 10% |
| 5(d) | Oatmeal bread | Oats | 15% |
Serial 5 is "Specialty Bread": the specialty ingredient must be present, at the stated percentage, in case a prefix is added to the term "bread" on the label. Other rows run from (b) honey bread through (o) bread with seeds. A note says the calculation of specialty ingredient is on a 100g flour basis, and the asterisk says the minimum for multigrain bread is minimum 10% in the 1st year of enforcement and thereafter 20%.
An invented example
Daily Loaf Bakers sells a brown loaf, a multigrain loaf and a cheese loaf. The brown loaf may be called "Wheat Bread or Brown Bread" only if whole wheat flour is at least 50% (on a 100g flour basis); calling it "Whole Wheat Bread" needs at least 75%. The cheese loaf needs cheese at 10% to carry the prefix. Daily Loaf also packs a coffee-chicory blend and, on the front, prints "COFFEE BLENDED WITH CHICORY, THIS MIXTURE CONTAINS" with both percentages. Its mixed vegetable oil carries "MULTI-SOURCE EDIBLE OIL" in at least 4 mm letters on a 2 litre pack, with the length of the statement at 45 mm minimum.
Need help with category-specific labels?
These rules are easy to miss because they sit below the general label provisions. Our FSSAI label compliance team can check oils, coffee blends, breads and water labels against Schedule II before printing.
Key takeaways
- Edible oil labels may not use words such as "Super-Refined"; admixtures carry "MULTI-SOURCE EDIBLE OIL" and "NOT TO BE SOLD LOOSE".
- Vanaspati with more than 30 percent rice bran oil carries its own statement.
- Coffee-chicory packages carry the substituted front-of-pack declaration, in force from 1st July, 2026.
- Milk powders and similar products carry "NOT TO BE USED FOR INFANTS BELOW SIX MONTHS".
- Bread names such as "Whole Wheat Bread" depend on the minimum specialty ingredient as a percentage of flour.
Read next
- Schedule II, part 1: mandatory label declarations
- Tea, coffee and chicory: product standards
- Gluten and hemp seed products: product standards
- Schedule I: fortified and organic logos
Disclaimer: Based on the FSSAI regulations named above as consolidated in FSSAI's compendium versions or as published in the Gazette, with the later notifications the article names (consulted on fssai.gov.in on 2-3 October 2026). Later notifications and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provisions referred to should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.