NEW DELHI, October 20 (Aalimi Nation) – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to quick-commerce platform Zepto and three other food businesses, and has started adjudication proceedings against a fifth company, over expired stock, misleading names and unapproved health claims. FSSAI announced the action on Monday, October 19, according to ThePrint.
What the FSSAI notices say
The Zepto notice stems from a complaint posted on X alleging that two packs of besan (gram flour) marked "USE BY: 12092026", or September 12, 2026, were delivered after that date. FSSAI said Zepto "has been asked to verify the complaint and provide order, delivery, warehouse, seller and product details", ThePrint reported. The regulator also sought confirmation that affected stock was withdrawn, details of customer notifications and refunds, and the steps taken to prevent a repeat. The notice concerns one complaint that Zepto has been asked to verify.
Pune-based Bakelite Food Processing was served a notice over "Malpani's Bake-Lite Puneri Cream Roll", sold through Blinkit and Zepto. FSSAI said the product name and its "Crispy & Creamy" description could mislead buyers, because the declared ingredients contain no milk, milk fat, cream or other dairy ingredient. It added that cream is a standardised dairy product and that images of a white, creamy filling were potentially misleading.
Supplement and juice labels under review
Two dietary supplement makers selling cranberry capsules were also notified. HealthyHey Foods LLP of Mumbai was cited over food-colour declaration discrepancies, a "Supports Urinary Tract Health" claim that requires prior approval, labelling non-compliance, and the use of the FSSAI logo beside the words "FSSAI certified". FSSAI also objected to the terms "Natural Cranberry Extract" and "100% Natural".
BMS Lifescience was cited because its "Hoag's Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Capsules" were marketed under an expired registration certificate. FSSAI said claims such as "Relief from Urinary Tract Infection" needed prior approval and that the phrase "as directed by healthcare practitioner" did not comply with the Advertising and Claims Regulations, 2018.
Mumbai-based Storia Foods & Beverages faces adjudication over its "Storia Juice (Pomegranate)" label. The product contains 4 per cent pomegranate juice concentrate and 12 per cent apple juice concentrate, yet its name and imagery could mislead buyers. FSSAI also found that the "Equivalent to 100% Fruit Juice (Reconstituted)" claim was non-compliant and that the "No Added Sugar" claim was undermined by an inconspicuous back-of-pack declaration about naturally occurring fruit sugar.
Background and next steps
The notices are part of a wider FSSAI push on labelling and health claims. ThePrint reported that the regulator recently began proceedings against Priyagold biscuits, Dodla Dairy and Ueir Organic Foods, and that BigBasket and Nestlé India have also faced action over labelling and health claims. FSSAI had earlier barred "100% fruit juice" claims on reconstituted juices, according to a News On AIR report.
FSSAI warned that non-compliance would invite action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Zepto must provide the information sought, and Bakelite must respond and take corrective action. ThePrint said it had emailed all four notified companies for comment and had received no response at the time of publication.
