The Food Safety Department has intensified its crackdown on adulterated and unsafe food items in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district, conducting surprise inspections at hotels and restaurants in Semaria and Allahabad Road. During the raids, officials seized expired cold drinks from one restaurant and initiated legal action against another eatery where samosas and sweets were allegedly being prepared in unhygienic conditions.

The inspections were carried out on the directions of Rewa Collector Narendra Kumar Suryavanshi as part of an ongoing drive to ensure food safety, particularly during the monsoon season.

Expired Cold Drinks Seized

The food safety team first inspected Indian Flavour Restaurant in Semaria, where officials found 15 bottles of expired cold drinks allegedly kept for sale to customers.

The expired beverages were seized, and proceedings were initiated against the restaurant operator, Lavkush Chourasia, under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Officials said selling expired food or beverages poses a serious health risk and constitutes a violation of food safety regulations.

Unhygienic Food Preparation Found

The inspection team later visited Benam Samosa Hotel on Allahabad Road, where samosas and sweets were allegedly being prepared in unsanitary conditions.

According to the Food Safety Department, the kitchen lacked adequate hygiene, raising concerns about food quality and consumer safety.

Action has been initiated against the establishment's operator, Arvind Sahu, under Section 58 of the Food Safety and Standards Act for violations related to food safety standards.

Traders Warned to Follow Food Safety Norms

Following the inspections, the department issued a warning to hotel owners, restaurant operators and food business establishments across the district, directing them to maintain cleanliness and comply strictly with food safety regulations, especially during the rainy season.

Officials said strict action would continue against businesses found selling expired food products or violating hygiene standards.

Residents Seek Wider Inspection Drive

Despite the latest enforcement action, local residents said complaints regarding poor hygiene and food quality continue to emerge from several eateries across the district.

They urged the administration to expand the inspection campaign beyond a few establishments and conduct regular district-wide checks to ensure that all food businesses comply with food safety norms.

Authorities have indicated that surprise inspections will continue as part of the district's ongoing effort to safeguard public health and ensure compliance with food safety regulations.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued nine notices to quick-commerce platform Swiggy Instamart following multiple consumer complaints alleging the delivery of expired, spoiled and unsafe food products. The action has been taken under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with the regulator seeking a detailed explanation and compliance report from the company.

According to FSSAI, the notices were issued after customers reported receiving food items that had crossed their expiry dates, spoiled packaged meals, rotten eggs and improperly stored baby food. The regulator warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response and implement corrective measures could lead to legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Consumer Complaints Trigger Regulatory Action

The complaints submitted to the food safety regulator alleged several violations involving food quality and safety standards on the Swiggy Instamart platform.

Consumers claimed they received expired food products, including Healthify Whey Protein and Noice Madras Mixture, while others reported receiving Akshayakalpa Organic Eggs that were allegedly rotten, expired and emitted a foul smell.

Another complaint involved a packaged meal, Kakke da Paratha, which customers said was spoiled and unfit for consumption due to its unpleasant odour.

Concerns Over Baby Food and Licensing

Among the more serious allegations was a complaint involving baby food. A customer reportedly received baby food that appeared dirty and improperly stored. Even after returning the product, the complainant alleged that the same defective item was delivered again.

The regulator also flagged concerns regarding products being marketed under brand names that allegedly did not possess the required government licence. One such complaint related to "Noice" branded eggs, raising questions over regulatory compliance.

These complaints prompted FSSAI to seek clarification from the company regarding its quality control mechanisms, storage practices and compliance with food safety regulations.

FSSAI Seeks Compliance Report

In the notices, FSSAI directed Swiggy Instamart, as the Food Business Operator (FBO), to submit a comprehensive explanation detailing the steps being taken to ensure that food products sold through its platform meet prescribed safety standards.

The regulator has asked the company to explain how it plans to prevent the sale and delivery of expired or unsafe food items in the future and strengthen monitoring across its supply chain.

FSSAI stated that if the company fails to submit a satisfactory explanation or address the identified shortcomings, appropriate legal proceedings may be initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Customer Service Also Under Scrutiny

Several complainants alleged that while Swiggy Instamart refunded the purchase amount in some cases, the platform did not adequately address the underlying food safety concerns.

Consumers argued that merely issuing refunds without investigating or preventing similar incidents does not resolve potential public health risks associated with expired or contaminated food products.

The regulator is expected to examine whether existing grievance redressal and quality assurance mechanisms are sufficient to ensure consumer safety.

Part of Wider Regulatory Enforcement

The action against Swiggy Instamart comes amid increased scrutiny by FSSAI of food businesses across the country. In recent months, the regulator has also issued notices to companies including Lotte India and Kubera Foods over alleged violations of food safety norms.

The latest notices reinforce FSSAI's focus on ensuring that food products sold through both traditional retail channels and quick-commerce platforms comply with India's food safety standards.

As the quick-commerce sector continues to expand rapidly, regulators are placing greater emphasis on maintaining product quality, proper storage conditions and consumer safety across digital grocery delivery platforms.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued fresh notices to Lotte India, Ferns N Petals (FNP) and Kubera Foods over alleged misleading advertising claims and violations of food labelling regulations. The food regulator has directed all three companies to explain the discrepancies within seven days, warning that action may be initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 if satisfactory responses are not received.

The action follows inspections and scrutiny of product labels, where the regulator found several instances of non-compliance with India's food safety and advertising standards.

Lotte Choco Pie's '100% Vegetarian' Claim Under Scanner

One of the key observations made by FSSAI concerns Lotte India's Choco Pie range, including Lotte Choco Pie with Rich Marshmallow, Lotte Choco Pie Real Orange, and Lotte Choco Pie Choco Burst.

According to the regulator, the products carry a "100% Vegetarian" claim that has been found to be misleading under existing food labelling regulations.

FSSAI also noted that the company continued using pre-printed packaging displaying its old corporate name, "Lotte India Corporation Ltd.", without obtaining prior regulatory approval, violating packaging and labelling norms.

Nutritional Information Missing on Pepero Products

The regulator further observed deficiencies in PEPERO Crunchy Biscuit Sticks and PEPERO Original Biscuit Sticks, stating that nutritional information was not displayed in the prescribed format required under Indian food labelling rules.

Such information is mandatory to help consumers make informed dietary choices.

Lollipops and Fruitz Eclairs Also Face Violations

FSSAI found that Lolly Bliss Lollipops, available in orange, strawberry and kaccha mango flavours, failed to comply with prescribed vitamin levels under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations.

The regulator also raised objections against Fruitz Eclairs, saying the product's branding creates the impression that it contains real fruit despite containing no fruit ingredients.

Additionally, the mandatory disclaimer required for such brand names was reportedly missing from the front of the package, making the labelling non-compliant.

Kubera Foods Pulled Up Over '100% Natural' Claim

FSSAI also served a notice to Kubera Foods regarding its Soft and Fresh Cream Bun Pineapple.

The regulator stated that the product prominently claims to be "100% Natural" and free from preservatives, colours and flavours. However, the ingredient list reportedly mentions preservatives, synthetic food colours and added flavouring substances, making the front-of-pack claims misleading.

Ferns N Petals Chocolate Product Under Investigation

A notice was also issued to Ferns N Petals Pvt. Ltd. over its Roasted Almond Chocolate.

According to FSSAI, the product carries the description "Premium Chocolate", even though it contains hydrogenated vegetable fat, raising concerns about the accuracy of the claim.

The regulator also pointed to shortcomings in ingredient disclosure and Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) declarations. Furthermore, promotional terms such as "Pure," "Fresh," and "Natural" were found to be inconsistent with food advertising regulations.

Companies Given Seven Days to Respond

FSSAI has directed all three companies to submit their explanations within seven days. The regulator warned that failure to provide satisfactory clarification could result in legal action under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The latest enforcement action reflects FSSAI's continued efforts to ensure truthful food labelling and protect consumers from misleading marketing claims in packaged food products