The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated penal action against five major e-commerce platforms over alleged food safety and regulatory violations. According to FSSAI details, the action covers Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Flipkart India and Zepto. The regulator has cited issues including misleading or non-compliant product claims and violations linked to the sale, display and offering for sale of certain food products through e-commerce platforms. As reported by FSSAI, the action relates to misleading or non-compliant claims, product information, and the sale and display of prohibited and poisonous food articles through e-commerce platforms.
The FSSAI action specifically covers products including Happilo Premium Date Bites – Zesty Orange, Milky Mist Fresh Low Fat Cream, Milky Mist Farm Fresh Curd, Milky Mist Greek Yoghurt and Datura (Dhatura) fruits and seeds. According to FSSAI, these products were identified as having issues related to food safety compliance and regulatory adherence when sold or displayed online through the named e-commerce platforms. The regulator flagged Hapilo Premium Date Bites – Zesty Orange across multiple platforms, citing misleading or non-compliant claims, while raising concerns over product information and claims associated with Milky Mist products on Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket.
The regulatory violations cited by FSSAI include misleading or non-compliant product claims, product information issues, and violations linked to the sale, display and offering for sale of certain food products through e-commerce platforms. According to the regulator's statement, these issues represent significant concerns regarding food safety standards and regulatory compliance in the online retail sector. The action was initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and applicable FSSAI regulations, with the platforms having not responded to queries at the time of publication.
A person aware of developments at a quick commerce platform indicated that the platform takes all necessary steps to comply with the law and responds to any notices from authorities within the given timeline. The regulatory action comes amid heightened scrutiny of food products sold through online marketplaces and quick commerce platforms. The platforms are required to maintain valid FSSAI registration before listing food products, with sellers found without proper registration facing delisting and potential penalties under Section 59 of the FSS Act, which scales from 6 months/₹1 lakh with no injury to a minimum 7 years (up to life) and ₹10 lakh fine if it causes death.
