FSSAI CEO warns food firms, e-commerce platforms against misleading consumers
FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani said food companies and e-commerce platforms must ensure accurate labels, product due diligence and compliant claims as states step up enforcement amid rising consumer complaints. Front-of-pack labelling rules remain pending before the Supreme Court.
What happened
FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani says states are intensifying food-safety enforcement amid rising consumer complaints. Food companies and e-commerce platforms remain
Key facts
- 7.6 million licences and registrations
- about 5,000 licences with FSSAI
- 99% of licences and registrations with state governments
Why this matters
Prioritize targets with validated labeling, claims governance and seller-quality systems, as food-safety diligence is becoming a core value and integration risk.
What to watch
- Supreme Court proceedings or an FSSAI notification on front-of-pack labeling.
- FSSAI or state food-safety notices targeting online listings, dark patterns or specific health claims.
- Major marketplace policy updates on food seller documentation, label-image requirements or claim restrictions.
- A rise in consumer complaints, product delistings, recalls or public naming of noncompliant brands.
- New guidance on nutraceutical, organic, natural, immunity, protein, sugar-free or child-focused claims.
- Build a centralized claims-evidence repository covering labels, product pages, ads and influencer content.
- Audit marketplace listings for ingredient, allergen, nutrition, licensing and health-claim consistency with physical packaging.
- Create seller risk tiers and pre-publication review requirements for high-risk food categories and therapeutic-style claims.
- Budget for packaging refreshes, relabeling inventory write-offs and potential reformulation if front-of-pack rules advance.
- Monitor state-level enforcement patterns to identify categories receiving disproportionate scrutiny.