FSSAI issues notices to Lotte, Kubera Foods and Ferns N Petals over misleading claims
India's food regulator flagged misleading label claims like '100% vegetarian', 'natural' and 'premium chocolate' across three brands, giving them 7 days to respond under the FSS Act 2006. The move signals tighter enforcement on packaged-food marketing.
What happened
FSSAI issued notices to Lotte India, Kubera Foods, and Ferns N Petals for misleading labelling claims like '100% vegetarian', 'natural', and 'premium chocolate'
Key facts
- 7 days
- 100 per cent vegetarian
- FSS Act 2006
Why this matters
Tightening label-claim enforcement adds regulatory diligence risk to food and confectionery targets, so bake claim-compliance liabilities into valuation and reps-and-warranties on any deal.
What to watch
- FSSAI issuing penalty orders or product recalls if responses inadequate
- Additional notices to other food brands widening the enforcement net
- Publication of standardized guidance on contested claim terminology
- Media/consumer-group amplification of misleading-claim narrative
- Stock or sales impact on listed parent companies of named brands
- Named brands issue formal 7-day responses defending or committing to amend claims
- Legal/regulatory teams review portfolio-wide label claims for exposure
- PR statements to reassure consumers and protect brand equity
- Industry associations (e.g. AIFPA) seek clarity on definitions of 'natural' and 'premium'