New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to quick-commerce platform Zepto, food manufacturer Bakelite Food Processing, and health-supplement brands HealthyHey Foods and BMS Lifescience over alleged violations involving expired food, misleading labels and unapproved health claims.
The regulator announced the action Monday via its official Instagram handle. The notices cover products sold through online platforms and the company’s website, with alleged violations ranging from delivering expired gram flour to unapproved health claims on cranberry supplements.
It has also sanctioned adjudication proceedings against Storia Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd. over the labelling of its pomegranate juice.
The notices come amid a wider FSSAI crackdown on food safety and misleading claims. In recent weeks, the regulator also initiated proceedings against Priyagold biscuits, Dodla Dairy and Ueir Organic Foods. Companies like BigBasket and Nestlé India also faced action over labelling and health claims.
The food regulator’s notice to Zepto Marketplace Pvt. Ltd. was followed by a complaint on X alleging two packs of besan (gram flour) were delivered after their use-by date. Both allegedly bore the marking “USE BY: 12092026”, indicating 12 September 2026.
“Zepto has been asked to verify the complaint and provide order, delivery, warehouse, seller and product details,” the regulator said in a statement.
It has also sought an explanation of the incident, a confirmation that affected stock has been withdrawn, details of customer notifications and refunds, and steps to prevent a recurrence.
The notice also flagged that non-compliance would invite action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
ThePrint has reached out to Zepto, Bakelite Food Processing, HealthyHey Foods and BMS Lifescience for comment via email. This report will be updated if and when they respond.
‘Cream roll’ without dairy ingredients
Pune-based Bakelite Food Processing, whose products include bakery items and packaged snacks, also received a notice over ‘Malpani’s Bake-Lite Puneri Cream Roll’, sold through Blinkit and Zepto.
FSSAI highlighted that the product’s name and description— ‘Crispy & Creamy’ could mislead consumers about its composition. Its declared ingredients include refined wheat flour, hydrogenated vegetable fat, margarine and sugar, but no milk, milk fat, cream or other dairy ingredient.
The regulator said cream is a standardised dairy product and that the filling did not meet the prescribed standard. It also flagged images of a white, creamy filling as potentially misleading. The company has been asked to respond and take corrective action.
FSSAI flags cranberry supplement claims
Two of the FSSAI’s notices concern cranberry-based supplements marketed for urinary tract health.
BMS Lifescience, the health and nutrition products company that markets dietary supplements, was issued a notice over ‘Hoag’s Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Capsules’. FSSAI found that the product was being marketed under an expired registration certificate.
It flagged claims such as “Kidney Health & Prevent Urinary Tract Infection” and “Relief from Urinary Tract Infection”, saying these required prior approval from the Food Authority under regulations governing health and disease risk reduction claims.
The regulator also objected to the FSSAI logo on the packaging, which could imply certification or endorsement, and flagged the phrase “as directed by healthcare practitioner” as non-compliant with the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.
“Online advertisements contained potentially misleading claims relating to skin, weight loss, dental and heart health, kidney function and detoxification and urinary tract health, suggesting therapeutic or preventive benefits,” the regulator said.
A Mumbai-based nutrition and wellness brand selling dietary supplements, vitamins and herbal extracts, HealthyHey Foods LLP, received a notice over ‘HealthyHey Nutrition Natural Cranberry Extract 25% Capsules’. FSSAI found discrepancies in their food-colour declarations on labels displayed on Flipkart and the company’s website.
It also flagged the claim “Supports Urinary Tract Health” as requiring prior approval and found the label non-compliant with front-of-pack and back-of-pack requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2022.
The regulator further objected to the use of its logo alongside phrases such as “High level of certification” and “FSSAI certified”, as well as the product name “Natural Cranberry Extract” and the claim “100% Natural”.
Storia juice label under scrutiny
Separately, FSSAI sanctioned adjudication proceedings against Mumbai-based Storia Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., which sells packaged fruit juices, smoothies and other beverages, over the labelling of its “Storia Juice (Pomegranate)”.
The regulator said the product contains 4 percent pomegranate juice concentrate and 12 per cent apple juice concentrate, but its name and imagery could mislead consumers about its composition.
It also found that the label did not adequately identify the product as juice reconstituted from concentrate. The claim “Equivalent to 100% Fruit Juice (Reconstituted)” was found not to comply with the applicable advisory.
FSSAI further objected to the prominent “No Added Sugar” claim on the front of the pack, noting that the declaration “Contains Naturally Occurring Fruit Sugar” appeared inconspicuously on the back.
(Edited by Nivedita Patil)
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