New Delhi: Highlighting the importance of truthful labelling, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to three food brands over alleged misleading health claims and labelling violations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Several food business operators (FBOs) were found violating regulations related to advertising, health claims, and product labelling. Companies have been directed to explain the alleged violations and take corrective measures, the regulator said in a post on X.
A notice was issued to Heritage Fresh Paneer over the use of the term “Fresh Paneer”, as reported by timesnow.in.
The product’s use of the word “fresh” does not satisfy the conditions specified under Schedule V for making such a claim, the FSSAI has said. The regulator believes the wording may mislead consumers into believing the product possesses characteristics that are not adequately substantiated.
FSSAI also questioned the use of the word “healthy” in the trademark “Healthy Happiness,” stating that such terminology could wrongly imply the product inherently provides health benefits, contrary to the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.
Notice was also issued to La Casa Vegan Hazelnut Chocolate Spread over claims such as “all natural,” “100 per cent organic,” and “vegan.”
The claim “All Natural” does not meet the prescribed conditions for using the term “Natural”, the FSSAI said. It further noted that the product allegedly lacked prior approval for organic and vegan endorsements on its FSSAI licence, making such claims potentially misleading.
he authority also observed that the use of the term “100 per cent” is not defined under the Food Safety and Standards Act or related regulations, making such promotional language questionable from a regulatory perspective.
Another notice was sent to Cipzer Nutraceuticals’ juice capsules for allegedly displaying claims such as:
“FSSAI approved, Boost your immune system, Remove toxins from your body, Made with organic vegetables”.
The agency has clarified that products should not claim to be “FSSAI Approved,” as the regulator does not endorse individual products in that manner. The authority also stated that the immunity and detoxification claims lacked adequate scientific evidence.
The packaging reportedly displayed images of tomatoes, cucumbers, and coriander that were not listed as ingredients, the regulator noted. It also pointed out incomplete nutritional information, including inadequate disclosure regarding vitamins C and E.
Food labels play a critical role in helping consumers make informed dietary decisions. Claims such as “natural,” “healthy,” “organic,” or “immunity boosting” can significantly influence buying behaviour. If these statements are inaccurate or unsupported by scientific evidence, consumers may unknowingly purchase products based on false expectations, the news channel has reported.
