FSSAI flags six food firms over misleading claims and labels

MUMBAI: It seems some food labels have been asked to take their claims with a pinch of reality. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has said six food business operators have taken corrective action after receiving notices over misleading labels, product claims and advertisements.

The six companies named by the regulator are Lotte India Corporation, Dabur India, Ferns N Petals, Eat Better Ventures, S S Product Prop and Om Sai Healthcare. FSSAI said the companies responded by withdrawing unsupported claims, revising labels and product listings, and reclassifying products where necessary.

In the case of Dabur India, FSSAI flagged an Ayurvedic proprietary medicinal oil that had been listed as an edible oil. The company subsequently directed e-commerce platforms to place the product under the appropriate Ayurvedic medicine category and is making similar changes on its own website. The regulator said the product would therefore fall outside its purview as a food item.

Ferns N Petals faced multiple labelling concerns over a chocolate product. FSSAI said the product contained hydrogenated vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter but did not carry the mandatory declaration required for such products.

The regulator also flagged missing recommended dietary allowance (RDA) information and inadequate disclosure of ingredient percentages, despite the product using almond imagery and descriptions. Ferns N Petals told FSSAI that corrective measures had been implemented and the labels revised in line with regulatory requirements.

For Lotte India, the issue centred on the use of “100 per cent” claims on product labels. The company removed the claims after they were questioned by authorities.

Meanwhile, Eat Better Ventures withdrew comparative advertising and vegan-related claims that had attracted regulatory scrutiny. Om Sai Healthcare has also begun revising its website content and marketing material after concerns were raised over promotional claims and regulatory compliance.

The company assured the regulator that it would avoid misleading claims and advertisements in future.

The disclosures come as FSSAI intensifies scrutiny of food labels, health claims and advertising across the sector. The regulator said the corrective measures demonstrate greater accountability among food businesses following official notices.

For consumers, the changes underline a simple point: when it comes to food marketing, what is printed on the pack can matter just as much as what is inside it.