The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday launched penal action against five major e-commerce platforms over alleged food safety and regulatory violations, putting Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Flipkart India and Zepto under the food regulator’s scanner. 

The FSSAI issued a statement on Wednesday, which read that action had been initiated against the said platforms over various non-compliances, including misleading claims, misbranding and the sale or display of prohibited food articles by means of online platforms.

The food regulator body’s action follows concerns over the way several food products are advertised and sold online, and the FSSAI invoked provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, besides the applicable FSSAI regulations. 

Happilo product among the ones flagged

As per a report by news agency PTI, the action pertains to misleading claims concerning Happilo Premium Date Bites-Zesty Orange. The regulator has resorted to proceedings against the e-commerce platforms in connection with the claims linked to the product. 

Similarly, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket are also facing action over misleading claims and non-compliant product information concerning certain dairy products manufactured by Milky Mist. 

The products identified in the matter include Milky Mist Fresh Low Fat Cream, Milky Mist Farm Fresh Curd and Milky Mist Greek Yoghurt. 

The regulatory body said the latest action forms part of a wider crackdown that it has intensified over the past six months against food business operators and e-commerce companies. 

FSSAI issues warning to e-commerce platforms

FSSAI, in a post on its official social media handle, called the action ‘a major crackdown on e-commerce platforms.’

Its post read, “Penal action initiated against - Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, Bigbasket, Flipkart India and Zepto,” citing various food safety and regulatory non-compliances. 

The watchdog specifically listed ‘misbranding/misleading claims’ and the ‘sale and display of prohibited/poisonous food articles through e-commerce platforms’ among the violations prompting the action. 

Nestle India faced action earlier

The action against the e-commerce giants comes days after the FSSAI announced legal proceedings against Nestle India Ltd over alleged violations pertaining to baby food products. The body said a sample of follow-up formula manufactured by Nestle was found to be of substandard quality in terms of its biotin content during laboratory analysis. The regulator further alleged that two other infant nutrition products were promoted in violation of rules governing such products. 

Subsequently, the FSSAI filed three separate adjudication cases against Nestle India concerning the products. 

However, on the other hand, Nestle maintained that its products were’ completely compliant with all the applicable regulations’ and that it would continue coordinating with FSSAI on the matter. A spokesperson attached to the company also said the two products cited for promotional violations, along with their labels, had been approved by the regulator’s expert committee.