The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a regulatory crackdown on several prominent food and retail businesses following reports of food safety violations and the dissemination of misleading product claims. The apex food regulator has issued improvement notices to specific operators, suspended business licences, and initiated proceedings against major e-commerce platforms to ensure compliance with national food safety standards.
A primary target of the regulator’s action is AB Hotels, the operator of the Radisson Blu hotel chain. The FSSAI issued an improvement notice to the company, citing a series of deficiencies related to hygiene and food safety practices. According to the regulator, inspections conducted at the facility revealed significant lapses, including the poor maintenance of kitchen premises and equipment. Furthermore, inspectors noted inadequate cleaning routines and improper procedures for the segregation and storage of raw and finished food products. The notice also highlighted systemic gaps in documentation, specifically regarding food procurement records and the overall traceability of ingredients, which are critical for maintaining health standards in hospitality.
Beyond the hospitality sector, the FSSAI has turned its attention to the online retail space. Notices were served to Innovative Retail Concepts Ltd, which operates the e-commerce platform BigBasket, as well as Flipkart Internet Private Limited and Gemini Edibles & Fats India Ltd. These actions were prompted by concerns over the marketing of Freedom Cooking Rice Bran Oil. The regulator stated that the product was being promoted with claims that it possessed cholesterol-reducing properties, assertions that the FSSAI noted are not covered under applicable food regulations. By challenging these promotional narratives, the authority aims to curb what it considers misleading health information being presented to consumers.
In a separate enforcement effort, the regulator took more severe action against DNV Food Products Ltd, a company involved in the processing and preservation of fish and fish products. Following an inspection of its manufacturing, packing, and storage facilities, the FSSAI found evidence of serious hygiene and sanitation lapses. Consequently, the company’s food business licence was suspended. Additionally, the authority confirmed the cancellation of the licence held by Jhanvitanni, another entity found to be in breach of safety protocols.
These developments underscore a broader effort by the FSSAI to tighten oversight on both physical establishments and digital marketplaces. While the regulator has publicly identified the entities involved, the companies themselves have largely remained silent regarding the specific allegations. As of the time of reporting, representatives for Radisson Blu had not provided a response to inquiries regarding the improvement notice and the cited hygiene deficiencies. Similarly, queries directed to other affected companies regarding the regulatory findings remained unanswered.
The FSSAI’s current actions serve as a stern reminder to food businesses of the mandatory nature of hygiene and safety compliance. For establishments like hotels, the requirement includes rigorous standards for storage, cleaning, and traceability of inventory. For e-commerce platforms, the focus remains on ensuring that product labeling and health-related claims align strictly with government-approved standards, preventing the spread of unsubstantiated health benefits. Moving forward, stakeholders in the food and retail industry will likely be under increased pressure to audit their internal processes to avoid similar regulatory scrutiny and potential operational suspensions.
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