FSSAI Issues 150 Notices to Major Food Companies and E-commerce Platforms Over Regulatory Violations

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued 150 notices to various food business operators, major brands, and e-commerce platforms in recent months for misleading advertisements and regulatory violations. The enforcement action has led to product seizures, license cancellations, and suspensions across prominent food service chains and online marketplaces.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken strict enforcement action against several major brands, food service chains, and e-commerce platforms in recent months over serious violations of its laws and regulations, including misleading advertisements.

According to an update shared by the regulator on social media, the FSSAI has issued a total of 150 notices to food companies during this period. The regulatory crackdown has specifically targeted energy drink and alcoholic beverage makers, alongside packaged food giants.

The list of major brands facing action includes Nestle India, PepsiCo, Abbott India Ltd, Red Bull India, Danone India, Monster Energy India Pvt Ltd, Hell Energy Pvt Ltd, Mondelez India, Coca-Cola India, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Ferrero India, and Kenvue Inc. The regulator has also seized products belonging to many of these companies due to various regulatory violations.

In addition to manufacturing brands, the FSSAI has widened its scrutiny to the retail and distribution sectors. As many as 12 notices have been sent to prominent e-commerce companies Amazon and Flipkart. The regulator further disclosed that one warehouse license belonging to Amazon has been cancelled.

Food service establishments have also faced scrutiny. More than 30 notices have been issued to major quick-service restaurant chains and coffee houses, including KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Domino's, and Costa Coffee. Among these, the FSSAI has suspended five licenses belonging to Domino's. This follows a previous wave of notices issued to various five-star hotels last year.

Following these regulatory interventions, the FSSAI stated earlier this week that several companies have initiated corrective actions in response to the notices issued against them.

"Regulatory compliance is becoming non-negotiable for businesses operating in the Indian market, spanning from large multinational corporations to digital marketplaces and food delivery chains. This aggressive enforcement by the FSSAI highlights the growing emphasis on consumer protection, accurate labeling, and adherence to food safety laws. Companies must prioritize robust internal compliance frameworks and transparent marketing practices to mitigate severe operational risks, such as license suspensions and product seizures." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes