FSSAI Cracks Down on Major Brands Over Misleading Food Labels
FSSAI cracks down on major manufacturers for misleading claims and labelling violations in coffee-flavoured milk beverages.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken a stern stand against several major manufacturers and local Food Business Operators (FBOs) for committing serious labelling and advertising violations. The regulator has issued formal notices after discovering significant discrepancies in how certain ready-to-drink dairy beverages are described to consumers, particularly on e-commerce platforms.
The Conflict Between Front and Back Labels
The crackdown centered on coffee-flavoured milk beverages where the FSSAI found a confusing contradiction in product packaging. According to the regulator, the front of the packaging prominently declared the products as "Flavoured Milk," while the back of the same pack classified them as "Proprietary Food – 1.12 Dairy Based Drink."
This inconsistency extends beyond the physical packaging. The FSSAI noted that these products were being marketed as "Coffee Flavoured Milk" on various e-commerce websites, despite the different classification listed on the back of the pack.
Misleading Claims and Regulatory Breaches
Beyond the classification clash, the regulator flagged specific marketing phrases used in online descriptions. Claims such as "crafted with the goodness of flavoured double toned milk" were found to be inconsistent with the actual declared composition or the category of the beverages.
The FSSAI clarified that these products should fall under the standardized category of "Flavored Milk" as prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Consequently, labeling them as "Proprietary Food" was deemed incorrect.
Which Regulations Were Violated?
The regulator stated that these inconsistencies in labelling and advertising are in direct violation of two key sets of rules:
- Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018
- Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020
What Happens Next?
The affected food business operators have been ordered to provide an explanation as to why legal action should not be initiated against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The FSSAI has indicated that it may take further enforcement steps, which could include:
- Ordering the immediate removal of non-compliant advertisements.
- Requiring the companies to issue corrective advertisements to clear the confusion.
Protecting the Consumer
This move highlights a surge in regulatory scrutiny regarding how packaged foods are marketed, especially when online descriptions differ from the physical label. Such discrepancies can mislead consumers, making it difficult for them to understand the true nature and composition of the products they are buying.
As a statutory authority under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the FSSAI remains the primary body responsible for regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food products across India to ensure public health and safety.