New Delhi, Oct 19: Food safety regulator FSSAI has issued notices to quick-commerce platform Zepto and three food businesses over alleged violations involving expired products, misleading labels and unapproved health claims, while sanctioning adjudication proceedings against Storia Foods & Beverages Pvt Ltd over the marketing of its pomegranate juice.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India said the enforcement actions followed concerns about product information and compliance with food safety regulations, including allegations that could affect consumers’ understanding of what they purchase.
In its notice to Zepto Marketplace Pvt Ltd, the regulator sought an explanation over a complaint that two packets of besan were delivered after their stated use-by date of September 12, 2026. FSSAI directed the platform to verify the complaint and provide details of the order, delivery, warehouse, seller and product.
HealthyHey Foods LLP received a notice over its ‘HealthyHey Nutrition Natural Cranberry Extract 25 per cent Capsules’. FSSAI flagged discrepancies in the product’s declared colours and said claims such as “Supports Urinary Tract Health” fell under health or disease-risk-reduction claims requiring prior approval.
The regulator also questioned the labelling of ‘Malpani’s Bake-Lite Puneri Cream Roll’, manufactured by Bakelite Food Processing Pvt Ltd and sold through e-commerce platforms, including Blinkit and Zepto. Its ingredients list names refined wheat flour, hydrogenated vegetable fat, margarine and sugar but does not list milk, milk fat, cream or other dairy ingredients. FSSAI said the terms “Cream Roll” and “Creamy”, along with images depicting a creamy filling, could mislead buyers about the product’s composition.
In a separate notice, FSSAI raised concerns about BMS Lifescience’s ‘HAOG’S Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Capsules’. The regulator said the product was marketed under an expired registration certificate and carried claims concerning urinary tract infections, kidney health and disease prevention that required prior approval.
The action against Storia Foods & Beverages concerns its pomegranate juice product. FSSAI said it contained 4 per cent pomegranate juice concentrate and 12 per cent apple juice concentrate, while its branding and imagery could give consumers a misleading impression of its composition.
The regulator also questioned labels referring to reconstituted juice and claims including “Equivalent to 100 per cent Fruit Juice (Reconstituted)” and “No Added Sugar”. After inspection, sampling and scrutiny of the label, FSSAI found the company’s explanation unsatisfactory and sanctioned adjudication proceedings.
The actions place product labelling, advertising claims and accurate disclosure of ingredients at the centre of regulatory scrutiny across online food sales and packaged products.
