Latest news with #FoodSafetyandStandards
India Gazette
16 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
"Will aggressively start our inspections on other e-commerce operators": Maharashtra FDA Commissioner on Zepto's license suspended in Dharavi
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 2 (ANI): Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar said on Monday that some food articles of quick-commerce firm Zepto had fungus, and some products had also expired, for which their food business licence was suspended in the Dharavi area. Speaking to ANI, Narvekar emphasised that the department will now start its inspections on all other e-commerce operators too. 'They will be given an Improvement Notice. They have to fulfil all the parameters mentioned in the notice. Once they come back, we will reverify whether they stand clear on all the parameters. Their suspension will be removed if their performance is satisfactory. Otherwise, it will be continued till they improve their performance... We will aggressively start our inspections on all the other e-commerce operators,' the Maharashtra FDA Commissioner said. 'This action was taken because some food articles had fungus, water had accumulated in some places, the temperature for the food items was not maintained, and some products had also expired... Action has been taken because of these discrepancies,' Narvekar said. Based on information received from Minister of State for Food and Drug Administration, Yogesh Kadam, and under the guidance of Mangesh Mane, Joint Commissioner (Food), an inspection was conducted at the premises of Kiranakart Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Zepto), located in Dharavi, Mumbai, by Food Safety Officer Ram Bodke, the Maharashtra FDA said in a statement. The inspection revealed serious non-compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, it said. Key observations during the inspection included- Fungal growth observed on certain food articles; storage of products near clogged/stagnant water, indicating poor hygiene; cold storage temperatures not maintained as per regulatory standards; wet and filthy floors, with food items stored in a disorganised and unsanitary manner, including directly on the floor and expired food products found not clearly separated from non-expired stock. 'These findings constitute a failure to comply with the conditions of the license. Accordingly, Smt. Anupamaa Balasaheb Patil, Assistant Commissioner (Food), issued an order of immediate suspension under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Regulation 2.1.8(4) of the Licensing and Registration Regulations, 2011,' FDA Maharashtra, Mumbai Division said in a statement. As per the statement, the suspension remains effective until the establishment achieves full compliance and receives approval from the licensing authority. Faced with the suspension order, Zepto released a statement and said they have already initiated an internal review and are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure full and swift compliance. 'We are committed to rectifying the lapses identified and strengthening our processes to provide the best and safest quality of products to our consumers. We are taking all necessary corrective measures to resume operations in accordance with regulatory obligations and applicable laws as soon as possible. We have already initiated an internal review and are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure full and swift compliance,' the Zepto statement read. (ANI)
India Gazette
20 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Zepto's license suspended in Mumbai's Dharavi for food safety non-compliance
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 2 (ANI): The food business licence of quick-commerce firm Zepto in Dharavi in Mumbai, has been suspended by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for non-compliances with food safety standards. Based on information received from Minister of State for Food and Drug Administration, Yogesh Kadam, and under the guidance of Mangesh Mane, Joint Commissioner (Food), an inspection was conducted at the premises of Kiranakart Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Zepto), located in Dharavi, Mumbai, by Food Safety Officer Ram Bodke, the Maharashtra FDA said in a statement. The inspection revealed serious non-compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, it said. Key observations during the inspection included- Fungal growth observed on certain food articles; storage of products near clogged/stagnant water, indicating poor hygiene; cold storage temperatures not maintained as per regulatory standards; wet and filthy floors, with food items stored in a disorganised and unsanitary manner, including directly on the floor and expired food products found not clearly separated from non-expired stock. 'These findings constitute a failure to comply with the conditions of the license. Accordingly, Smt. Anupamaa Balasaheb Patil, Assistant Commissioner (Food), issued an order of immediate suspension under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Regulation 2.1.8(4) of the Licensing and Registration Regulations, 2011,' FDA Maharashtra, Mumbai Division said in a statement. As per the statement, the suspension remains effective until the establishment achieves full compliance and receives approval from the licensing authority. The FDA Maharashtra assured the public that continues to uphold its commitment to ensuring public health through strict and transparent enforcement of food safety regulations. Faced with the suspension order, Zepto released a statement and said they have already initiated an internal review and are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure full and swift compliance 'We are committed to rectifying the lapses identified and strengthening our processes to provide the best and safest quality of products to our consumers. We are taking all necessary corrective measures to resume operations in accordance with regulatory obligations and applicable laws as soon as possible. We have already initiated an internal review and are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure full and swift compliance,' the Zepto statement read. (ANI)
News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
Here's Why FSSAI Is Warning Food Brands Against Using ‘100%' Claims On Labels
Last Updated: The FSSAI has issued a warning to food businesses against using misleading '100%' claims on their packaging, labels, or advertisements. Read on to find out why. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) warned food businesses against using '100 per cent' claims on their packaging, labels and advertisements. The regulatory body issued the statement as many companies were promoting their products like '100 per cent natural', '100 per cent pure' and '100 per cent organic'. In the FSSAI notice dated May 30, 2025, the food body pointed out that the term 100 per cent is not recognised under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 or the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations of 2018. They said the phrasing could mislead consumers and rig the market competition. On surface '100 per cent' sounds reassuring, however, could be deceptive. An NDTV report stated that many fruit juice products are labelled as '100 per cent juice', however, it is made from fruit concentrate mixed with water rather than fresh juice. The report added that the phrasing created a perception of absolute purity or exceptional quality which may not reflect the actual product content. The consumers, the agency said, focus on bold claims made on the front label but ignore fine print on the back while making quick purchasing decisions. The FSSAI said such marketing tactics not only mislead consumers but also place competing products at a disadvantage, especially those that are truthful and not marketed aggressively. According to the report, sub-regulation 4(1) of the Advertising and Claims Regulations, 2018, all claims made on food products should be truthful, unambiguous, not misleading, and should help customers comprehend the product information clearly. Additionally, sub-regulation 10(7) prohibits any claim or advertisement which distorts consumer perception or unfairly disparages other products. Reportedly, FSSAI said that these '100 per cent' purity claims often fail to meet the aforementioned conditions, potentially breaching existing advertising regulations. As per another CNBC report, the regulatory body has urged food businesses to refrain from using '100 per cent' in any labelling, branding, or promotional content unless it is verifiable and clearly defined. The objective is to maintain open communication while safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring equitable practices in food advertising. This advisory serves as FSSAI's renewed pledge to combat misleading marketing while fostering informed dietary decisions among Indian consumers. First Published: June 02, 2025, 16:15 IST
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
FDA suspends license of Zepto's parent company to operate Dharavi store after safety violations
MUMBAI: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business license of one of the warehouses of Kiranakart Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the parent company of quick-commerce platform Zepto . This was after serious food safety violations at its Dharavi facility . The suspension was issued after an inspection conducted by FDA officials on Saturday revealed multiple breaches of food safety standards . Inspectors found fungal growth on food items, storage of food near stagnant water, and the presence of expired products. Some food items were allegedly stored directly on wet and unhygienic floors, and cold storage units reportedly failed to meet prescribed safety norms. The inspection was carried out on the directive of Yogesh Kadam, Minister of State for Food and Drug Administration. Following the inspection, assistant commissioner (Food) Anupamaa Patil issued the suspension order under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Regulation 2.1.8(4) of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. FDA officials stated that the license suspension will remain in effect until the company fully complies with the food safety norms and receives clearance from the licensing authority. TOI attempted to reach out to Zepto, but company representatives were unavailable for comment. A Zepto spokesperson said, 'At Zepto, maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene is non-negotiable. We have already initiated an internal review and are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure full and swift compliance." The spokesperson further said that the company will be rectifying the lapses identified. "We are taking all necessary corrective measures to resume operations in accordance with regulatory obligations and applicable laws at the earliest," the spokesperson said.
News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
‘Fungal Growth On Food, Expired Items': FDA Suspends Zepto's License In Mumbai's Dharavi
Last Updated: The FDA stated that the suspension will remain in effect until the establishment achieves full compliance and receives clearance from the licensing authority. The food business licence of quick-commerce unicorn Zepto in Dharavi, Mumbai, has been suspended by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for non-compliance with food safety standards. Following the information received from the Minister of State for FDA, Yogen Kadam, an inspection was conducted which revealed several violations. These included fungal growth on certain food items, improper maintenance of cold storage temperatures, inadequate separation of expired and valid stock, food products stored directly on the floor, wet and dirty floors, and the storage of food items near clogged and stagnant water. According to the FDA, Kiranakart Technologies, the firm operating Zepto, violated the Food Safety and Standards Act (2006) and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. 'The findings constitute a failure to comply with the conditions of the licence. Accordingly, Anupamaa Balasaheb Patil, Assistant Commissioner (Food), ordered an immediate suspension under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Regulation 2.1.8(4) of the Licensing and Registration Regulations, 2011," the FDA said in a statement. The FDA stated that the suspension will remain in effect until the establishment achieves full compliance and receives clearance from the licensing authority. There has been no official comment from Zepto. The licence remains invalid until the conditions are met.
