The food regulator has initiated penal proceedings against Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket and Zepto over misleading claims, product information and the listing of prohibited food articles.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated penal action against five major e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms over alleged violations of food safety regulations.
The platforms named by the regulator are Amazon, Flipkart India, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket and Zepto. The action covers concerns including misleading or non-compliant product claims, inadequate or incorrect product information, and the sale or display of prohibited and poisonous food articles. FSSAI said the proceedings have been initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and applicable regulations.
Among the products flagged was Happilo Premium Date Bites – Zesty Orange, which FSSAI cited for allegedly misleading or non-compliant claims across all five platforms.
The regulator also raised concerns over product information and claims relating to Milky Mist Fresh Low-Fat Cream, Milky Mist Farm Fresh Curd and Milky Mist Greek Yoghurt, listed on Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket.
Another product highlighted by FSSAI was Datura (Dhatura) fruits/seeds, which was available on BigBasket, Amazon and Swiggy Instamart. The listing of such prohibited food articles has added another dimension to the regulator’s scrutiny of online food marketplaces.
The action comes as regulatory oversight of food sold through e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms intensifies. FSSAI has previously directed online food businesses to strengthen food-safety and hygiene compliance, reflecting growing scrutiny of the digital food marketplace.
The platforms had not responded to queries from Business Standard at the time of publication. A person aware of developments at a quick-commerce platform said the company takes necessary steps to comply with the law and responds to regulatory notices within the prescribed timeline.
The latest action places greater emphasis on the responsibility of online platforms not only to host food listings but also to ensure that product claims, information and listed articles comply with India’s food-safety framework.