February 9, 2026 | 04:32 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan announced that the Indonesian government will require food and beverage businesses to include high-sugar labels on product packaging. "Foods and beverages with high sugar content will be labeled so people know the risks of consuming them," he said at Graha Mandiri, Jakarta, on Monday, February 9, 2026.
Zulkifli made the decision after a meeting between ministries and institutions discussing Government Regulation No. 1 of 2026 regarding Food Safety. He mentioned that the government has formed a team to formulate criteria for high-sugar labels on food and beverage packaging.
Zulkifli Hasan stated that the obligation for the industry to provide high-sugar labels is based on the health conditions of the Indonesian population. According to him, sugar is the main cause of death in the Indonesian population.
Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) Taruna Ikrar provided Zulkifli with a similar explanation regarding the requirement to include sugar labels. Taruna stated that sugar is one of the determinants of diseases, causing the highest mortality rates in Indonesia.
Taruna provided examples of some diseases causing the highest mortality rates, such as stroke, diabetes, and cancer. He stated that these diseases are caused by excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat.
He mentioned that sugar can turn into fat in the body. This fat can then transform into atherosclerosis, which has the potential to block blood vessels.
Taruna mentioned that the BPOM is responsible for formulating technical regulations related to high-sugar labels or nutri grades for sugar, salt, and fat. In the future, the industry will affix high-sugar labels during production. "The factory that labels it must comply with the regulations we create," he said.
He mentioned that the BPOM is currently harmonizing regulations with related ministries such as the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture, including associations of food and beverage businesses. Taruna stated that the harmonization aims to reach an agreement among all parties regarding high-sugar labels.
He set a goal to complete the regulations this year. Even after the regulations are enacted, Taruna stated that the government will implement a grace period so that the high-sugar label policy will not take immediate effect.
Taruna ensured that BPOM adheres to the international standards set by FAO and WHO, namely the Codex Alimentarius, in determining high-sugar labels. "There are parameters; we don't create them based on negotiations, but there are international standards," he said. He also hopes that the high-sugar label policy can prevent the population from potential diseases caused by excessive sugar consumption.
Read: Indonesia Mulls Applying Sugar Warning Labels on Packaged Drinks
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