Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to 14 food brands over alleged misleading claims, labelling violations and consumer complaints, signaling a tougher regulatory approach towards food companies that use health, nutrition and quality-related claims without adequate backing. The regulator has directed all the companies to take corrective measures and explain the alleged violations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The action covers products ranging from fruit juices and cooking oils to protein supplements, noodles, dairy products and packaged beverages.

Checking claims made on packaging

Among the brands that received notices is Pluckk Mango Fruit Juice, which claimed “No Added Sugar” on its packaging. However, scrutiny of the ingredient list reportedly found the product contained 51% mango pulp and 49% sugarcane juice. Natural Paneer was also pulled up for using a product name that allegedly violates provisions under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2018. FSSAI said such branding could potentially mislead consumers regarding the nature of the product.

Several other products were questioned for health-related and nutritional claims:

• Gaur Healthy Food’s Silken Tofu carried “100% Veg” and “rich in vitamins” claims without declaring specific nutrient values.
• The product also allegedly carried prohibited anti-cancer claims.
• Medizen Labs’ ATOM PWR Whey XL was questioned for claims such as “Pure & Healthy”, “100% Authentic”, “Easy Digest” and “Rapid Recovery” without scientific evidence.
• Himalayan Organics Korean Ginseng was flagged for energy and performance claims and serving sizes that allegedly exceeded prescribed limits.

‘Organic’, ‘Natural’ and ‘Heart’ claims questioned

Master Chow Foods came under scrutiny for promoting its ramen noodles as “100% Natural”, “Freshly Made” and prepared from “high-quality organic flour”, while ingredient details reportedly identified the flour as premium white flour or Maida. Ferrero India’s Kinder Joy was questioned over claims highlighting milk solids, with regulators seeking clarification on whether milk solids formed a major component of the product.

Similarly, Saffola Total Heart Pro Cooking Oil was asked to justify claims such as “Heart Pro”, “Good Fats Balance” and “Losorb” with scientific evidence. Orville’s Mountain Bawarchi Buransh Squash was found lacking mandatory disclosure regarding buransh pulp content and was also flagged for unauthorized medicinal claims.

Fruit drinks and water brands under lens

Raw Pressery’s Alphonso Mango Fruit Drink was examined after its front label highlighted natural sugar, while ingredient disclosures reportedly showed fructose being added separately. Nexa Industries’ Alkaline Nutrient Water also came under the scanner because “alkaline nutrient water” is not a standardised category under Indian food regulations.

Other products questioned include Incipro Gold Powder Vanilla, where claims relating to hydrolysed whey protein, neuro nutrients and probiotics were deemed doubtful by the regulator. FSSAI has sought detailed explanations and supporting evidence from the companies concerned.

Complaints trigger action on hygiene, quality

Apart from label-related issues, FSSAI also acted on consumer complaints. Bikanervala received a notice after a social media complaint alleged that an employee was eating inside a kitchen or service area during operational hours. The company has been asked to investigate the matter, submit hygiene-related standard operating procedures and provide an action-taken report.

Param Dairy Limited also came under scrutiny after complaints of fungus being found in curd and rabri products supplied through IRCTC catering services. The regulator has sought details of sourcing and inventory management practices to ensure expired or spoiled products do not reach consumers.

What consumers should know about the law

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is the principal law governing food quality and safety in India. It prohibits food businesses from making misleading claims that may influence consumer choices. If packaging, advertisements or product labels are found to be deceptive, companies can face penalties, regulatory action and even cancellation of licences in serious cases.

Key consumer rights include:

• Right to receive accurate product information.
• Right to challenge misleading claims and advertisements.
• Right to file complaints with food safety authorities.
• Right to seek action against unsafe or mislabeled products.

The latest notices underline FSSAI’s increasing focus on ensuring that food brands support every claim with facts and scientific evidence, while giving consumers clearer and more transparent information about what they are buying.