Food Safety

FDA suspends food licence of Blinkit facility, 2 eateries in Mumbai

Unsafe storage, contaminated food and poor hygiene practices were among the concerns flagged by Maharashtra FDA officials during recent inspections

Food safety crackdown on dirty kitchens rides wave of online anger in India

Violations discovered during recent raids include infestations of flies, rats and cockroaches, expired or adulterated raw ingredients and improper storage

Zomato bans analogue dairy dishes, warns restaurants of delisting

The platform has ordered restaurants to verify ingredient labels and remove analogue dishes as regulators intensify scrutiny over food safety and labelling

Before the FDA walks in: How restaurants audit kitchens and food safety

Maharashtra FDA's crackdown has exposed lapses in storage, pest control, hygiene; but in a professionally run kitchen, what systems are supposed to catch these problems before the regulator does?

'Peptide Party' in Bengaluru cancelled after FSDA seeks event details

A "Peptide Party", scheduled for Saturday in Bengaluru, has been cancelled following a notice issued to the organisers of the event by the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department seeking details about the event, officials said. The cancellation came a day after the FSDA sought detailed information from the organisers of the event on peptide preparations, including their composition, manufacturers, regulatory status, dosage and intended use, they said. Officials said that the proposed event was being publicised as an invite-only event featuring "peptide tastings", music, food and networking, as cited in their social media posts. Peptide parties are informal, invite-only social gatherings where biohackers, wellness enthusiasts, and fitness influencers meet to discuss, sample, or promote peptide-based products. The department has also issued an advisory to the general public regarding the "Peptide Party" event, originally scheduled to take place on August 29, in ...

Packaged food, drink market faces stricter front-of-pack labelling

The regulator has proposed a ‌red-coloured hexagonal shape for food products ​which are high in ​any two or more nutrients - fat, sugar or salt - it ​said reportedly in a Supreme Court filing

Nationwide ban on analogue paneer may be next as states step up action

FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani says analogue paneer could soon be prohibited nationwide, as more states move against the non-dairy substitute

Pests, poor sanitation: FSSAI notices to JW Marriott, Andaz, Juniper

The regulator flagged licensing and labelling lapses at JW Marriott and hygiene, pest-control and storage deficiencies at Andaz, operated by Juniper Hotels in Aerocity

FDA suspends licences of 5 food outlets at Mumbai Cricket Association site

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licences of five outlets at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) premises over the alleged violation of food safety norms, flagging deficiencies in food handling, storage, refrigeration and sanitation. As part of its statewide drive, the FDA has suspended licences of 11 food establishments, including the five outlets at MCA, it said on Monday. The FDA inspected 45 hotels, restaurants, eateries and dhabas during the drive, issued improvement notices to 33 establishments and conducted 25 raids, according to a press note. The five MCA outlets facing action are the Permit Room, Pavilion, Mediterranean, Oriental Swing, and Clubway & Pastry Counter. The FDA inspected the outlets on August 20 and found various deficiencies related to hygiene, food handling, storage, refrigeration and sanitation. At the Permit Room, inspectors found ice accumulation in a kitchen refrigerator, an unclean and slippery floor near the ..

FSSAI suspends Marche Retail licence, issues order against SDP Industries

Food regulator suspends Marche Retail's licence for 30 days over serious non-compliance and bars SDP Industries from selling ghee over adulteration concerns

FSSAI issued 150 notices to food brands over misleading ads in recent weeks

Food regulator FSSAI on Saturday informed that it has issued 150 notices to food companies, including major brands Nestle India, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola India, in recent months over misleading advertisements, false claims and non-compliance with labelling regulations. In a social media post, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) shared an update on its enforcement action taken against major brands in recent months. "Over 150 notices issued for misleading advertisements, false claims & labelling non-compliances," the FSSAI said. The regulator shared the list of a few major brands against whom action has been taken. These are Nestle India, PepsiCo, Abbott India Ltd, Red Bull India, Danone India, Monster Energy India Pvt Ltd, Hell Energy Pvt Ltd, Mondelez India, Coca-Cola India, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Ferrero India and Kenvue Inc. In the past few months, the FSSAI said it has taken action against various food business operators (FBOs) for serious violations of its ..

Karnataka prohibits production, sale of analogue paneer for 1 year

The Karnataka government has prohibited the production, storage, distribution and sale of 'analogue paneer' being sold as 'paneer' across the state for a year to safeguard public health, officials said on Saturday. "The Food Safety Division of the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration, Karnataka, has issued a Government Notification dated August 17, prohibiting the manufacturing, processing, packing, storage, distribution, transportation, wholesale and retail sales, display for sale and supply of Analogue/Non-Dairy Paneer being sold under the name 'Paneer' in the state for a year," the department Commissioner Srinivas K, said in a statement. A product prepared in the form of paneer by wholly or partially replacing milk fat or milk solids with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients is considered Analogue /Non-Dairy Paneer, officials said. Such a product shall not be labelled, marketed, sold or represented to consumers as 'paneer', they said. Accordin

FDA suspends licences of 7 Mumbai food outlets over severe hygiene lapses

The sweeps targeted severe hygiene lapses, unhygienic food preparation, and potential misbranding, alongside major crackdowns on prohibited gutkha and adulterated dairy products

Front-of-pack labels: Where India stands vs global food labelling systems

India is yet to finalise its front-of-pack labelling rules. Here's how its proposed approach compares with warning labels and nutrition ratings used in other countries

Amway, Emami, 4 other firms withdraw '100%' claims on labels, ads: FSSAI

Food regulator FSSAI on Wednesday said that Amway India, Emami, Bonn Biscuits and three other companies have withdrawn misleading '100 per cent' claims from their product labelling and advertisements, following its enforcement actions against these firms. In a social media post, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed that it has initiated action against food business operators (FBOs) to discontinue the use of the term "100%" on labels, packaging & promotional or advertising materials. Following FSSAI's intervention, five FBOs have taken corrective action & withdrawn "100%" claims from their products and advertisements. In the case of Bonn Biscuits Pvt Ltd, the FSSAI said that the company was using a "100%" claim in the advertisement for Bonn Cummin Flavor Jeera Bite Biscuits, 76 gm. Now, the company has removed "100%" claim from the website. On Emami Ltd, the FSSAI said that the company was using 100 per cent claim for its product Zhandu Honey. Emami has

Fadnavis backs Mundhe, says FDA's crackdown on food safety will continue

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was very pleased with the FDA's action against food safety violations, adulteration and hygiene lapses across the state.

FSSAI notice impact: Dabur, Ferns N Petals, 4 other firms rectify mistakes

Food regulator FSSAI on Tuesday said that six companies, including Dabur India and Ferns N Petals, have rectified their mistakes following the notices issued against them for misleading labels, claims and advertisements. In a social media post, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed the public about the 'corrective action taken by FBOs (food business operators) post notices issued by the regulator. These six companies are: Lotte India Corporation Pvt Ltd, Dabur India, Ferns N Petals Pvt Ltd, Eat Better Ventures Pvt Ltd, S S Product Prop and Om Sai Healthcare. "Following notices from FSSAI, major FBOs have taken prompt corrective actions. Measures range from withdrawing misleading label claims to revising product packaging to ensure consumer safety and compliance," the regulator said in the post. In the case of Dabur, the FSSAI said that the company was selling ayurvedic proprietary medicinal oil as edible oil. "Dabur has informed that the company has ...

Who is Tukaram Mundhe? The IAS officer taking on Maharashtra's food sector

In his latest move, Mundhe's FDA issued notices to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over advertisements for a pan masala brand, whose products are banned in Maharashtra

Maharashtra suspends licences of 12 Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy warehouses

Reports of food contamination are common in India's local eateries, and Maharashtra's drive and Mundhe are gathering social media attention

Zepto warehouse sealed in Bengaluru over unhygienic food storage conditions

Karnataka's food safety department sealed a Zepto warehouse in Hoskote after finding misbranding, non-compliant labelling and unhygienic food storage and handling conditions