FSSAI issues notices to Lotte India, Kubera Foods, FNP over misleading claims
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New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to Lotte India Corporation Private Limited, Kubera Foods and Ferns N Petals (FNP) over alleged misleading claims and labelling violations on several food products, directing the companies to explain within seven days why action should not be initiated against them.
In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, the food safety regulator said all three companies have been asked to submit their responses within a week, failing which action could be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
FSSAI said Lotte India Corporation was found using non-compliant pre-printed labels carrying its previous company name without obtaining prior approval. It also objected to the company's "100 per cent vegetarian" claim on certain Choco Pie variants, describing it as misleading.
The regulator further found that Lotte's PEPERO Crunchy Biscuit Sticks Carton and PEPERO Original Biscuit Sticks failed to display nutritional information in the prescribed format. It also said the company's Lolly Bliss lollipops did not comply with the vitamin levels specified under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations.
In addition, FSSAI said Lotte's FRUITZ Eclairs products could mislead consumers because the product name suggests the presence of fruit despite containing none. The regulator also noted that the mandatory front-of-pack disclaimer required under the regulations was missing.
Kubera Foods was served a notice over alleged misleading claims on its "Soft and Fresh Cream Bun Pineapple" product.
According to FSSAI, the product displayed front-of-pack claims including "100 per cent Natural" and "No Preservatives, Colours & Flavours", despite the ingredient list declaring the presence of preservative INS 282, synthetic food colour INS 110 and added flavouring substances.
The regulator also stated that the use of terms such as "Pure", "Fresh" and "Natural" violated provisions governing such claims under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations.
Ferns N Petals was also issued a notice over alleged misleading claims and labelling deficiencies related to its "Roasted Almond Chocolate" product.
FSSAI said the product was marketed as "Premium Chocolate" despite containing hydrogenated vegetable fat and not carrying the mandatory declaration required for chocolates containing vegetable fat in addition to cocoa butter.
The regulator further observed that the product's nutritional information panel did not disclose the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values and failed to mention the percentage of almonds used in the ingredient list, despite prominently displaying almonds on the packaging.
FSSAI has directed all three companies to submit their explanations within seven days, warning that failure to do so could lead to action under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
With IANS inputs
