The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is considering amendments to existing regulations to strengthen food safety compliance and consumer transparency across ecommerce platforms, quick commerce services and cloud kitchens.
FSSAI Chief Executive Officer Rajit Punhani said the regulator has conducted consultations with ecommerce and quick commerce companies to address gaps in product information available to consumers at the time of purchase.
The proposed changes would require online platforms to provide details such as manufacturing dates, expiry dates and batch numbers before consumers place orders. Currently, many platforms display the shelf life of packaged products without specifying their actual expiry dates.
Inspections of Dark Stores and Cloud Kitchens
FSSAI has also initiated inspections of dark stores operated by quick commerce companies and cloud kitchens to assess compliance with food safety requirements.
The move follows complaints regarding inadequate product information on platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart, particularly concerning expiry, best-before and use-by dates.
In 2024, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notices to ecommerce companies over similar concerns. However, regulatory changes were not introduced at the time following objections from industry stakeholders, who cited operational challenges in displaying detailed information for large product inventories.
Action Against Misleading Food Labels
Alongside its focus on online food retail, FSSAI has intensified scrutiny of misleading claims and labelling practices among packaged food and beverage manufacturers.
The authority has issued notices to more than 150 companies, including Nestlé, PepsiCo, Dabur, ITC, Ferrero, Danone, Red Bull and Abbott, over alleged labelling inaccuracies and regulatory non-compliance.
Punhani emphasised that larger food companies should set an example by complying with food safety regulations and avoiding misleading advertisements or product claims.
Front-of-Pack Warning Labels Under Consideration
FSSAI is also working towards introducing front-of-pack nutrition labelling for packaged foods. In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the regulator proposed red hexagonal warning labels indicating levels of nutrients such as sugar, salt and saturated fat.
The proposal remains subject to the Supreme Court’s decision.
Punhani said strengthening enforcement mechanisms and improving state-level food safety administration remain key priorities for the regulator.
The proposed ecommerce-specific amendments are still under consideration and have not yet been notified as mandatory requirements.