India’s food safety regulator has come down hard on some of the biggest names in your kitchen. On Monday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced enforcement action against quick commerce platform Zepto and four food business operators over alleged violations ranging from expired deliveries to misleading labels and unapproved health claims.
The action, detailed in an official statement shared on X, covers Zepto, HealthyHey Foods LLP, Bakelite Food Processing Pvt Ltd and BMS Lifescience. The regulator also sanctioned adjudication proceedings against Storia Foods and Beverages Pvt Ltd over the labelling of its pomegranate juice.
Zepto asked to explain expired besan delivery
The headline complaint involves Zepto Marketplace Pvt Ltd. FSSAI said it had received a complaint alleging that two packs of besan were delivered to a customer after their use-by date. The packs reportedly carried a “Use By: 12 September 2026” marking.
The regulator has directed the company to verify the complaint and submit full details of the order, delivery, warehouse, seller and product. It must also explain how the incident happened and spell out corrective steps, including withdrawing the affected stock, notifying customers and issuing refunds where required.
For quick commerce platforms racing to deliver groceries in minutes, expiry checks inside dark stores have become a recurring consumer worry. A single expired packet slipping through the cracks can erode trust far faster than any discount can rebuild it.
Cranberry supplement claims under the scanner
Two supplement makers, HealthyHey Foods LLP and BMS Lifescience, have been pulled up over claims on their cranberry products.
In the case of HealthyHey’s “Nutrition Natural Cranberry Extract 25% Capsules”, FSSAI flagged discrepancies in food-colour declarations on product listings on Flipkart and the company’s own website. It also questioned the “supports urinary tract health” claim, the use of the FSSAI logo alongside certification-related claims, and labelling statements that did not comply with regulations.
For BMS Lifescience’s “Haog’s Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Capsules”, the regulator found potential non-compliance across the product label, advertisements and e-commerce listings. It said the product was being marketed under an expired FSSAI registration certificate.
The regulator flagged claims around urinary tract health, kidney health and the prevention or relief of urinary tract infections, noting that such disease-risk-reduction claims require prior approval. It also raised concerns about advertisements suggesting benefits for skin, weight loss, dental and heart health, kidney function and detoxification.
Both companies have been told to respond within the stipulated period. Unsatisfactory responses could invite further action under food safety laws.
Bakelite’s cream roll has no cream, says regulator
FSSAI also issued a notice to Bakelite Food Processing Pvt Ltd over the labelling and marketing of its “Malpani’s Bake-Lite Puneri Cream Roll”, sold through e-commerce platforms including Blinkit and Zepto.
According to the regulator, the product’s ingredients include refined wheat flour, hydrogenated vegetable fat, margarine and sugar, but it does not contain milk, milk fat, cream or other dairy ingredients. The name and packaging, however, suggest otherwise.
Storia faces adjudication over pomegranate juice
The sharpest action was reserved for Storia Foods and Beverages Pvt Ltd. FSSAI sanctioned adjudication proceedings against the company over labelling claims on its Storia Juice (pomegranate).
The regulator said the drink contained only 4% pomegranate juice concentrate and 12% apple juice concentrate, yet its name and imagery could mislead buyers about what they were actually drinking. The label also did not state clearly enough that the juice was reconstituted from concentrate.
FSSAI flagged the claim “Equivalent to 100% Fruit Juice (Reconstituted)” and said the prominent “no added sugar” claim, sitting next to a far less prominent declaration about naturally occurring fruit sugar, could mislead consumers. The regulator said the product had been inspected and sampled, and the company’s explanation was found unsatisfactory. The proceedings have been sanctioned under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
What this means for shoppers
- Check use-by dates on delivery: quick commerce is fast, but expiry slips happen. Scan the pack before you accept it.
- Read supplement claims carefully: “supports” and “reduces” are not the same thing. Disease-risk claims need regulatory approval, and companies cannot print them freely.
- Labels can flatter: names like “cream roll” or “100% fruit juice” do not always match the ingredient list. The percentages are in the fine print.
- You can complain: FSSAI acts on consumer complaints. Keep the bill and photos if a delivered product looks wrong.
FAQs
Why has FSSAI sent a notice to Zepto?
A consumer complaint alleged that Zepto delivered two packs of besan past their “Use By: 12 September 2026” date. FSSAI has asked the company to verify the complaint and detail its corrective steps.
Which other companies are facing action?
HealthyHey Foods LLP and BMS Lifescience over cranberry supplement claims, Bakelite Food Processing over its cream roll labelling, and Storia Foods over its pomegranate juice label, with adjudication proceedings sanctioned against it.
What did FSSAI object to in Storia’s juice?
The drink had just 4% pomegranate juice concentrate and 12% apple juice concentrate, but the label claimed it was “Equivalent to 100% Fruit Juice (Reconstituted)”, which the regulator found misleading.
Can supplement brands claim health benefits freely?
No. Claims linked to disease-risk reduction need prior approval from FSSAI, and ads cannot promise benefits like weight loss, detox or heart health without meeting the rules.
What happens if the companies do not respond well?
FSSAI has said unsatisfactory responses could lead to further action under food safety laws, which can include penalties and prosecutions.
The message from the regulator is clear: fast delivery and bold marketing are no substitute for honest labels. For shoppers, the takeaway is simpler still: trust the label, but read it first.
