FSSAI Takes Action Against Misleading Claims and Advertisements by Food Business Operators

In an ongoing effort to monitor and regulate claims and advertisements made by Food Business Operators (FBOs) regarding their products, the Advertisement Monitoring Committee of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has identified 32 fresh cases that appear to contravene the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018.

The scrutiny conducted by the committee covered a wide range of food products, including health supplements, organic products, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products, and staples. The identified claims encompass various health claims and product claims made by manufacturers and/or marketers of nutraceutical products, refined oils, pulses, flours, millet products, ghee, and other food items.

Under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018, deceptive claims or advertisements are strictly prohibited and considered punishable offenses under Section 53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The FSSAI has referred the identified cases to the respective Licensing Authorities, who will issue notices to the concerned FBOs, requiring them to either withdraw the misleading claims or provide scientific substantiation for the same.

Failure to comply with these notices can result in penalties for the FBOs, including fines of up to Rs. Ten lakhs, as specified in Section 53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Additionally, repeated offenses may lead to further stringent punishments, such as license suspension or cancellation.

These recent 32 cases bring the total number of reported misleading advertisements and claims to 170 over the past six months. The FSSAI emphasizes that it will continue to take action against delinquent FBOs in the future.

The FSSAI urges all Food Business Operators to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018. They are advised to refrain from making unscientific and exaggerated claims or advertisements that aim to promote product sales. Compliance with these regulations not only helps avoid enforcement actions but also serves the best interests of consumers.

The FSSAI remains committed to ensuring the integrity and accuracy of claims and advertisements made by FBOs, fostering a transparent and trustworthy environment within the food industry.