Amazon, Zepto and 3 other platforms face FSSAI prosecution over misleading claims: Which products did it label? | Today’s news
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday said it has taken regulatory action against five major e-commerce platforms — Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Flipkart India and Zepto — for alleged violations of food safety rules, including making misleading claims and selling restricted products.
In a post on social media, the food regulator said it had launched a “major crackdown on e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket, Flipkart India and Zepto for non-compliance”.
According to FSSAI, the violations included mislabelling and potentially misleading statements along with the sale and listing of prohibited or poisonous foods.
Which products did he mark?
The regulator said criminal proceedings have been initiated against Amazon, Flipkart India, Swiggy Instamart, Zepto and BigBasket over alleged misleading claims associated with food product ‘Happilo Premium Date Bites – Zesty Orange’.
FSSAI said it has also initiated proceedings against Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket over misleading claims and unsatisfactory information displayed on some Milky Mist milk products.
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The products identified by the regulator are “Milky Mist Fresh Low Fat Cream, Milky Mist Farm Fresh Curd and Milky Mist Greek Yoghurt”.
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The food regulator further found that Amazon Seller Services, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket are in violation of relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 relating to the sale, display and offering for sale of the food product ‘Datura (Dhatura) Fruit/Seed’ through e-commerce platforms.
Queries emailed to the three platforms seeking their response did not receive an immediate response, news agency PTI noted.
FSSAI has intensified its enforcement efforts against Food Business Operators (FBOs) and online food platforms over the past six months. The regulator is also using social media to publicly communicate details of these enforcement actions to consumers.
FSSAI takes legal action against Nestlé India over 3 infant products; company says “fully compliant”
FSSAI on Friday announced that it has initiated legal proceedings against Nestlé India for alleged violations of regulations relating to three infant formula products. However, Nestlé India maintained that its products are “fully compliant” with all applicable regulations.
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The promotion applies to NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, Lactogen Pro 1 and subsequent formulas produced by the company.
According to FSSAI, its NAN Excella Pro Stage 1 review found claims related to “5HMO” and “Whey Protein”. In the case of Lactogen Pro 1, the regulator expressed concern over a claim describing “Whey Protein” as easily digestible.
The regulator said it examined the three products as well as promotional content available on e-commerce platforms before seeking an explanation from Nestle India on the claims.
The FSSAI said the first two products were found to be in breach of Regulation 4(2) of the Food Safety and Standards (Food for Infant Nutrition) Regulations 2020. The provision restricts promotional claims and materials intended to enhance the marketability of infant formula products.
The regulator also cited a breach of Section 3 of the Milk Substitutes, Baby Bottles and Infant Formula (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 1992, which prohibits the advertising or promotion of such products.
Laboratory testing of a sample of Nestle India’s follow-on formula found that the biotin content was below the prescribed standard. The FSSAI said the sample was subsequently sent to a reference laboratory for reanalysis, which also found that it did not meet the biotin requirements of the 2020 regulations.
Based on its findings, FSSAI said it has filed “three separate court cases against Nestle India in respect of these three products”.
Nestlé India responds
Nestlé India dismissed the concerns and reiterated on Friday that its infant formula products comply with applicable regulations, PTI reported.
“The said products (i.e. NAN EXCELLA PRO & LACTOGEN PRO) and their labeling have been approved by FSSAI’s expert committee,” a company spokesperson said in a statement issued after the regulator announced the legal action.
The company said it has again provided the authorities with a detailed response regarding the disputed label claims.
“In response to the alert, we have resubmitted to the authorities our detailed response to the label claims, which are factual and supported by the scientific literature,” the spokeswoman said.
Nestlé India also reaffirmed its compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and said it would continue to cooperate with FSSAI.
“We confirm compliance with all regulations, including all standards and label declarations under applicable laws. We will continue to closely cooperate and support FSSAI in its consumer awareness efforts,” the spokesperson added.
