FSSAI slaps notices on Lotte India, Ferns N Petals and Kubera Foods

NEW DELHI: India’s food regulator has gone label-hunting, and three companies have come up short. FSSAI has issued notices to Lotte India, Ferns N Petals and Kubera Foods over misleading claims and violations of labelling norms across their food products, directing all three to explain within seven days why action shouldn’t follow under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Lotte India Corporation copped the most detailed dressing-down. FSSAI found the company had used non-compliant, pre-printed labels bearing its old name, Lotte India Corporation Ltd, without securing prior approval. Worse, three of its Choco Pie variants, Rich Marshmallow, Real Orange and Choco Burst, carried a “100 per cent vegetarian” claim that the regulator has now flagged as misleading. The label troubles didn’t stop there: Lotte’s Pepero Crunchy and Original Biscuit Sticks failed to carry nutritional information in the prescribed format, its Lolly Bliss Lollipops fell short on vitamin-level compliance under the FSS Advertising and Claims Regulations, and its Fruitz Eclairs created a misleading impression of containing fruit when they don’t. On top of that, the mandatory brand disclaimer was missing from the front of the pack entirely.

Kubera Foods fared little better. FSSAI issued notice over its Soft and Fresh Cream Bun Pineapple, taking issue with front-of-pack claims of “100 per cent natural” and “no preservatives, colours and flavours” that directly contradicted the product’s own ingredient list, which declared preservatives, synthetic food colour and added flavouring. The regulator was blunt: claims of “pure”, “fresh” and “natural” simply don’t hold up against the law.

Ferns N Petals wasn’t spared either, picking up a notice over its Roasted Almond Chocolate for misleading claims, including a “premium chocolate” tag on the front of the pack despite the product containing hydrogenated vegetable fat. FSSAI also flagged labelling deficiencies around recommended dietary allowance declarations and ingredient disclosure.

The action fits a pattern. FSSAI recently issued a similar notice to Heritage Foods over its “fresh paneer” claim, and the regulator has increasingly taken to social media to publicise enforcement against food business operators, whether triggered by its own suo motu cognisance or by consumer complaints.

The message to India’s food industry is hard to miss: label it accurately, or expect a knock from the regulator next.