Food compliance and innovation at FoodTekPack 2026

Regulatory compliance is no longer just about meeting legal requirements; it is also becoming a strategic tool for building consumer trust and strengthening market competitiveness. This was the key takeaway from a panel discussion on ‘FSSAI and Innovations in Automated Compliance’ at FoodTekPack 2026, where experts from the food, packaging and labeling sectors discussed the evolving role of food safety regulations, transparent labeling and scientific packaging practices.

The session moderated by Bhushan Namdeorao Yengade, founder of Binder Technology, featured Rashida Vapiwala, founder, Labelblind; Foram Badani, assistant director at the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP); and Gokul S, head of R&D at Ejag Foods.

Setting the tone, Yengade engaged the audience by asking how many of them actually read product labels before making a purchase. Referring to changing consumer behavior, he observed that awareness, particularly among younger consumers, is steadily increasing.

“We analyzed that many young people are picking up simple packaging,” he said. “It shows that awareness among consumers is growing. They try to read the labels and understand what the product offers.” As consumers become more conscious of what they buy, packaging and labeling have emerged as critical communication tools between brands and consumers, he said.

Addressing the role of packaging in food safety, Foram Badani highlighted the importance of selecting appropriate food-contact materials and urged the industry to rely on science rather than misconceptions. “Compatibility with a food product plays a very, very important role,” she said. “Nowadays everyone is concerned about their health, and many people think plastic is the culprit. But actually, plastic is not a culprit, we don’t know how to use it.”

Badani explained that FSSAI has prescribed clear migration limits and regulations for food-contact packaging materials to safeguard consumers. Rather than viewing compliance as a burden, she encouraged food businesses to make better use of the resources already available to them.

“Food business operators can always follow the rules declared by FSSAI,” she said. “The regulations have almost aligned with international standards, and they are written in very simple language. If businesses have any doubts, government bodies are available to help.”

The discussion then turned to the growing importance of clean and transparent labeling, particularly as Indian food manufacturers look to expand into international markets. According to Rashida Vapiwala, India is entering a phase where transparent communication through product labels will become increasingly significant.

“We are in the pursuit of being enabled,” she said. “When clean labeling becomes more prominent, the need for transparent labeling is only going to grow in the coming times.” She said labels should be viewed not merely as regulatory requirements but as strategic business assets, particularly for companies looking to enter new markets.

“Your labels should be at the core of your strategy for trade and entering any market,” Vapiwala said. “It’s an absolute must and a non-negotiable.”

Speaking from a manufacturer’s perspective, Gokul S underlined that food safety begins with scientific decision-making and should remain central throughout product development. “We are food manufacturers, but we are also food consumers,” he said. “We have to take care of our own food safety and quality as well.”

Toward the end of the session, the panelists were asked to summarize regulatory compliance in a single phrase. Badani described compliance as ensuring ‘the safety of everyone,’ while Vapiwala said compliance can become a significant competitive advantage for brands operating in increasingly transparent markets. Gokul underlined the importance of ‘food safety’, reinforcing the central theme of the discussion.

Yengade brought together the diverse perspectives by observing that compliance ultimately serves as the foundation for consumer trust. “Compliance is something through which we build trust with people,” he said. “Packaging and labeling are the language through which we connect with literate people, illiterate people and, perhaps, with the globe.”

He remarked that packaging and labeling act as a universal language, connecting brands with consumers across different literacy levels, cultures and geographies. In today’s evolving food ecosystem, he suggested, innovation in compliance is no longer just about meeting regulations—it is about communicating responsibly, strengthening transparency and building lasting confidence in every product that reaches the market.