The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated penal action against major e-commerce platforms, including Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Amazon, Flipkart India and Zepto, over various regulatory violations.
The food regulator said the violations include misleading claims, misbranding and the sale or display of prohibited food products.
In a social media post on Instagram, FSSAI described the action as a “major crackdown” on e-commerce platforms over regulatory non-compliances. The regulator said it has intensified enforcement measures against food business operators (FBOs) and e-commerce companies this year.
Meanwhile, FSSAI has proposed a single-phase rollout of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FoPL), which would introduce prominent warning labels on packaged foods that contain high levels of salt, sugar or fat.
The food regulator submitted the proposal through an affidavit before the Supreme Court after the court sought a clear timeline from FSSAI and the government for introducing front-of-pack warning labels.
Under the proposed framework, packaged food products that exceed prescribed thresholds for nutrients of concern would have to carry a red hexagon on a white square background on the front of the pack.
The warning label aims to give consumers clear and easily identifiable nutritional information while they shop, helping them make informed food choices.
FSSAI plans to introduce FoPL through a single-phase implementation rather than a phased rollout. The regulator said the proposed warning format draws similarities with the model adopted in Canada and aims to highlight nutrients that may pose health risks when consumers consume them in excess.