'Ignore it, report it': FSSAI asks consumers to report unsafe food through its app

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Sunday urged consumers to report unsafe food practices by vendors through its mobile app. The announcement is part of a wider crackdown by the food safety regulator against companies for alleged breaches of food safety standards, labeling and advertising.

“Don’t just notice, report it! Unsafe food practices affect everyone. Turn your awareness into action with the Food Safety Connect app,” the food regulator said in a post on X.

The directive comes on the heels of the food safety watchdog issuing nine notices to Swiggy Instamart following multiple consumer complaints of alleged violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

FSSAI has intensified its enforcement efforts to curb the manufacture, sale and promotion of unsafe or misleading food products by strengthening inspections, issuing notices and initiating regulatory action.

In one of the latest cases, the food safety regulator shut down a spice manufacturing unit in Lucknow after an inspection revealed alleged adulteration. Officials seized the suspected counterfeit products and took samples for laboratory analysis.

Alcohol warning

Earlier this week, FSSAI also issued notices to several alcoholic beverage manufacturers for allegedly using unauthorized flavourings, making age-related claims and non-compliance with labeling and disclosure requirements under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018.

Violation of labels

The regulator also recently issued notices to Lotte India, Ferns N Petals and Kubera Foods, citing alleged false advertising and labeling violations. The companies were asked to explain within seven days why action should not be taken against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

According to the FSSAI, the alleged violations included claims such as “100 percent vegetarian,” “100 percent natural,” “premium chocolate,” “fresh” and “preservative-free,” along with inaccurate nutritional information, insufficient disclosure of ingredients, and labels that did not meet prescribed standards.

Last week, the regulator also issued notices to several beverage manufacturers for allegedly marketing products as ‘energy drinks’ in violation of regulations, besides issuing notices to Heritage Foods over claims related to its ‘fresh paneer’ product.

The FSSAI said that these enforcement actions were initiated based on consumer complaints as well as cases that were dealt with suo motu as part of its ongoing efforts to improve regulatory compliance and protect consumer interests.