FSSAI issued show-cause notices to quick commerce unicorn Zepto and three food brands over various compliance violations. This broadens the regulator's aggressive clampdown on misleading online food labelling and unapproved health claims. It puts quick commerce platforms directly in the crosshairs for product compliance, not just sellers.
How We Got Here
FSSAI recently pulled up BigBasket and Flipkart for misleading promotions on their platforms, just days before these new notices. Beverage brand Storia also faced adjudication proceedings earlier this year for its pomegranate juice containing only 4% concentrate.
The Numbers
- Zepto's notice stemmed from a consumer complaint alleging delivery of expired besan packets via social media.
- The regulator directed Zepto to submit order logs, seller details, warehouse tracking, and a root-cause analysis.
- Bakelite Food Processing was cited for labelling its ‘Puneri Cream Roll’ as "creamy" despite using only hydrogenated vegetable fat, not dairy.
- BMS Lifescience marketed 'HAOG’s Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Capsules' with an expired FSSAI registration and unapproved health claims.
- HealthyHey Foods faced scrutiny for ingredient discrepancies between its website and Flipkart listing for its "Natural Cranberry Extract 25% Capsules."
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For quick commerce founders and product managers in Bangalore and Pune, this signals a need for much tighter seller onboarding and internal quality checks.
The Take
This FSSAI crackdown forces quick commerce platforms to invest heavily in supply chain transparency tools and automated compliance checks. The regulator is clearly moving to hold platforms, not just individual sellers, accountable for product integrity and marketing claims.
Source:
Inc42 ↗