New Delhi: In a major crackdown on digital retail spaces, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated penal action against several prominent e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms. The sweeping measures address alleged violations of food safety regulations, the promotion of misleading claims, and the sale of non-compliant food products to consumers.
The platforms facing regulatory scrutiny include industry giants such as Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, and BigBasket. According to the food safety regulator, widespread instances were discovered where these platforms displayed misleading product information and facilitated the sale of items that explicitly breached established safety standards.
A significant portion of the regulatory action centres around specific non-compliant products. Both Amazon and Flipkart are facing penal measures concerning allegedly misleading and non-compliant claims related to a product marketed as ‘Happilo Premium Date Bites – Zesty Orange’. The FSSAI noted that the product information presented to consumers failed to align with regulatory guidelines.
Furthermore, the regulatory body took strict action against Amazon and Swiggy Instamart for the display and sale of Datura fruit and seeds. Datura is widely recognised for its toxic properties, and its unregulated sale poses severe health risks to the public. Swiggy Instamart is also facing broader scrutiny over alleged irregularities in product descriptions and claims across multiple other food items listed on its platform.
The FSSAI has clarified that all actions are being pursued under the stringent provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with its associated regulations. The authority delivered a stern message to the digital retail sector, stating that the labelling, information, and claims of food products sold on online and quick-commerce platforms must never mislead the consumer.
As the quick-commerce sector experiences explosive growth across Indian cities, the FSSAI’s latest intervention highlights a growing emphasis on holding digital aggregators accountable for the quality and safety of the inventory they host. The regulator has affirmed that systematic legal proceedings will follow for all documented instances of rule violations, ensuring that public health remains paramount in the rapidly expanding e-grocery market.