FSSAI cracks down on misleading food labels: fruit candy with no fruit, chocolate without cocoa
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken action against three food companies for allegedly misleading consumers through false claims on product labels. Notices have been issued to Lotte India Corporation Pvt Ltd, Ferns N Petals Pvt Ltd, and Kubera Foods under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
According to FSSAI, several products carried front-of-pack claims that did not match their actual ingredients. For example, Kubera Foods marketed its "Soft and Fresh Cream Bun Pineapple" as "100% Natural" and claimed it contained "No Preservatives, Colours & Flavours", but the label indicated the presence of preservatives, synthetic colour, and added flavouring substances. FSSAI also objected to the use of terms such as "Pure", "Fresh" and "Natural" on the product.
Ferns N Petals was issued a notice for its "Roasted Almond Chocolate", marketed as "Premium Chocolate". FSSAI alleged that the product contained hydrogenated vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter, lacked mandatory declarations, and did not disclose the almond content.
Lotte India faces multiple allegations. FSSAI said the company made misleading "100% Vegetarian" claims on some Choco Pie variants, omitted nutritional information on Pepero biscuit sticks, and marketed fruit-flavoured Fruitz Eclairs that contained no fruit. The authority also flagged old pre-printed labels and vitamin-level violations in some lollipops.
The companies have been given seven days to explain why action should not be taken against them. Dietitian Monita Gehlot from AIIMS Delhi emphasised that food labels are an important source of information for consumers to make informed dietary choices. She advised reading the ingredient list, nutrition information, allergen declarations and other mandatory disclosures before making food choices.
This action by FSSAI highlights the need for accurate labelling to protect consumer rights and ensure that claims on packaging reflect the true nature of the product.
