The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a major enforcement crackdown against several leading e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms for food safety violations, misbranding, and regulatory non-compliance.
Key Highlights of the Crackdown:
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Targeted Platforms: The penal action covers major players including Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Flipkart India, and Zepto.
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Core Violations: The regulatory action was triggered by severe non-compliances, which include misbranding, misleading product claims, and the sale or display of prohibited or restricted food articles on their online marketplaces.
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Stepped-Up Scrutiny: The move reflects a sharp escalation in regulatory oversight over the past six months, targeting Food Business Operators (FBOs) operating within the fast-growing e-commerce and quick-commerce sectors.
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Public Outreach: In a shift toward greater transparency, the regulator has actively utilized social media channels to inform consumers directly about these compliance failures and enforcement measures.
This crackdown aligns with FSSAI’s wider push to tighten food safety standards across online channels, following recent proposals for stricter warning-label regimes (such as proposed red hexagon warning labels) to protect consumers purchasing packaged and online food products.
