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