The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) initiated penal action on September 23 against Amazon, Flipkart India, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket for violations related to misleading claims and the sale of prohibited food products, according to medianama.com. The action targets non-compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and relevant FSSAI regulations.
FSSAI identified issues including misbranding, misleading claims, and the sale or display of prohibited or poisonous food articles on these e-commerce platforms. The regulator specifically flagged products such as Happilo Premium Date Bites – Zesty Orange for misleading claims, and raised concerns about Milky Mist dairy products listed on Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket. Additionally, Amazon Seller Services, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket were penalized for selling Datura fruits and seeds, which are prohibited, as reported by medianama.com and the Economic Times.
This enforcement action reflects FSSAI's intensified efforts over the past six months to regulate food business operators and e-commerce companies, as it uses social media to inform consumers about compliance issues. The move underscores the regulator's focus on ensuring accurate product information and consumer safety in the rapidly growing online food retail sector. The action against major platforms highlights the challenges of monitoring food safety standards in digital marketplaces.
FSSAI announced the penalties via its official social media account on September 23, marking a significant step in regulatory oversight of online food sales. The regulator's enforcement measures are part of a broader crackdown on food safety violations across e-commerce platforms in India.