FSSAI Hammers Food Brands Over Misleading Labels; No Fruit Found in Candy, No Cocoa in Chocolate

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country’s food safety regulator, has launched action against several food manufacturers over allegedly misleading product labels, reinforcing its commitment to greater transparency and consumer protection in the packaged food sector.

The regulator has issued show cause notices to several companies, including Lotte India Corporation Pvt Ltd, Ferns N Petals Pvt Ltd and Kubera Foods. According to FSSAI, a number of their products carried claims on the front of the packaging that could mislead consumers about their ingredients and nutritional quality.

The companies have been asked to respond within seven days, explaining why action should not be initiated against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

FSSAI stated that several products displayed marketing claims that did not accurately reflect their actual ingredients.

The regulator has also advised consumers not to rely solely on claims displayed on the front of food packaging. Instead, they should carefully read the ingredient list, nutritional information, allergen declarations and other mandatory details on the back of the pack before making a purchase.

Among the products flagged were Kubera Foods’ cream buns, which carried claims such as “100% Natural” and “No Preservatives, Colours and Flavours”. FSSAI alleged that these claims were misleading, as the products contained preservatives, synthetic colours and added flavouring substances.

The authority also questioned the use of terms such as “Pure”, “Fresh” and “Natural” when they did not accurately represent the product.

Ferns N Petals also came under scrutiny for its “Roasted Almond Chocolate”. According to FSSAI, the product was marketed as “Premium Chocolate” despite allegedly containing hydrogenated vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter.

The regulator further noted that mandatory declarations were missing from the packaging and that the almond content had not been adequately disclosed. As almonds are a recognised allergen, proper allergen labelling is mandatory on products containing them.

Lotte India Corporation also faced scrutiny over multiple products. FSSAI alleged that certain Choco Pie variants carried misleading “100% Vegetarian” claims, while Pepero biscuit sticks lacked complete nutritional information.

The regulator also pointed out that Fruitz Eclairs were marketed as fruit flavoured despite containing no fruit. It further identified issues relating to outdated labels and vitamin content in some of the company’s lollipop products.

Health experts believe food labelling regulations require stricter enforcement to improve consumer awareness and confidence.

Many dietitians have advised consumers not to rely solely on attractive marketing claims displayed on the front of food packaging.

Instead, they recommend carefully reviewing the ingredient list, nutritional information, allergen declarations and all other mandatory disclosures before purchasing any packaged food product.

The latest action highlights FSSAI’s increasing focus on ensuring that food labels accurately represent the contents of packaged products. As packaged food consumption continues to rise across India, transparent labelling has become increasingly important in helping consumers compare products, manage dietary requirements and avoid misleading claims.

The disciplinary action also sends a strong message to food manufacturers that promotional claims must be supported by the actual ingredients and nutritional composition of their products.

Companies are now likely to face greater scrutiny over the use of terms such as “Natural”, “Premium” and “Fresh” unless those claims can be fully substantiated.

As consumers become increasingly conscious of their health and nutrition, regulators are expected to continue strengthening India’s food labelling standards to ensure greater accountability across the packaged food industry.