With reference to pre-packaged items in India, it is mandatoy to the manufacturer to put which of the following information on the main label, as per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011?
1. List of ingredients including additives
2. Nutrition information
3. Recommendations, if any, made by the medical profession about the possibility of any allergic reactions
4. Vegetarian/non-vegetarian
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 4 only.

This question tests knowledge of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSAI). These regulations specify what mandatory information a manufacturer must display on the main label of a pre-packaged food item sold in India. Let us evaluate each statement one by one.

Statement 1: List of ingredients including additives — ✅ MANDATORY
As per the FSS (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, every pre-packaged food product must carry a complete list of ingredients in descending order of their composition by weight or volume, including any food additives used (such as preservatives, colours, flavour enhancers, etc.). This is a compulsory declaration on the main label. Hence, Statement 1 is correct and mandatory.

Statement 2: Nutrition information — ��� MANDATORY
The regulations make it obligatory for manufacturers to provide nutritional information on the label. This includes details such as energy value (in kcal), the amounts of protein, carbohydrate (specifying the quantity of sugars), fat (specifying the quantity of saturated fat), and any other nutrient for which a nutrition claim is made. This nutritional labelling is a mandatory requirement under the 2011 regulations. Hence, Statement 2 is correct and mandatory.

Statement 3: Recommendations made by the medical profession about the possibility of allergic reactions — ❌ NOT MANDATORY on main label
While it is true that the regulations provide for advisory or cautionary declarations regarding allergens, there is no mandatory requirement for the manufacturer to print specific recommendations made by the medical profession about allergic reactions on the main label. General allergen declarations (e.g., "contains peanuts") may be required, but a formal endorsement or recommendation from the medical profession is not a mandated item under these labelling regulations. This makes Statement 3 the incorrect/non-mandatory option, which is why it is excluded from the correct answer.

Statement 4: Vegetarian / Non-Vegetarian symbol — ✅ MANDATORY
One of the most well-known and distinctly Indian requirements under these regulations is the mandatory display of the Veg or Non-Veg symbol on the main label. A green circle inside a green square indicates the product is vegetarian, while a brown/dark red circle inside a brown/dark red square indicates it is non-vegetarian. This declaration is explicitly mandated by the FSS (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 and is a unique consumer protection measure in the Indian context. Hence, Statement 4 is correct and mandatory.

Conclusion:
Statements 1, 2, and 4 describe information that is mandatorily required on the main label of pre-packaged food items as per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. Statement 3 is not a mandatory requirement as specified in these regulations. Therefore, the correct answer is "1, 2 and 4 only".