Lotte India has moved to reassure consumers that its popular Choco Pie has not been banned or declared unsafe, following regulatory action by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Durg, Chhattisgarh, concerning a specific batch of the product.
The South Korean Lotte Corporation subsidiary said independent testing by a third-party NABL-accredited laboratory found that preservative levels in the affected batch were within permissible limits and that the product complied with applicable food safety standards.
The regulatory action relates specifically to Batch No. NM10DC2, manufactured on April 10, 2026, with an expiry date of April 9, 2027.
Lotte India said it had voluntarily recalled the affected batch as a precautionary measure while independent testing was underway.
The company stressed that the recall was limited to the identified batch and did not apply to Lotte Choco Pie as a product category.
“Reports suggesting that Lotte Choco Pie has been banned or that the product as a whole has been declared unsafe are therefore incorrect,” the company said.
The clarification follows reports about the Durg FDA’s action that raised questions over the safety of Lotte Choco Pie more broadly.
Lotte India said it would continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities and take the necessary steps to resolve the matter. The company also reiterated its commitment to product quality, food safety and regulatory compliance.
The episode highlights the importance of distinguishing between a batch-specific regulatory action and a product-wide ban, particularly for widely consumed packaged food brands.