FSSAI notices Zepto over expired besan, supplement firms over health claims
Representative image: 27707 / Pixabay
FSSAI said on October 19, 2026 it had sent notices to Zepto over expired besan and to three firms over labels and unapproved health claims on cranberry capsules and a snack.
What Happened
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said on Monday, October 19, 2026, that it had issued notices to quick-commerce platform Zepto and three food and supplement businesses. Zepto has been asked to explain a complaint that a customer received expired gram flour (besan), while HealthyHey Foods, BMS Lifescience and Bakelite Food Processing were questioned over product labels and health claims, including cranberry capsules marketed for urinary tract health. The regulator announced the action through its official social media account and said further action may follow if the replies are not satisfactory.
Key Facts
- Zepto was asked to explain a complaint that two packs of besan reached a buyer after their use-by date, which was marked as September 12, 2026, and to confirm that affected stock was removed and refunds given.
- HealthyHey Foods was questioned over its natural cranberry extract capsules: the declaration of food colours, the phrase "Supports Urinary Tract Health", and wording such as "FSSAI certified" and "100% Natural".
- FSSAI said BMS Lifescience's HAOG'S Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Capsules were sold under an expired registration and carried unapproved claims about reducing kidney and urinary tract disease risk.
- Bakelite Food Processing's Malpani's Bake-Lite Puneri Cream Roll, sold through Blinkit and Zepto, was questioned over its labelling and advertising.
- Separately, the regulator approved adjudication proceedings against Storia Foods over claims made for its pomegranate juice.
- Non-compliance can attract action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Why It Matters
India's food rules separate a food from a medicine. A food or supplement may describe what it contains, but a claim that it supports a body organ, prevents a disease or reduces the risk of one generally needs the regulator's prior approval and supporting evidence. Products sold as "natural" or "herbal" are not exempt. That is why phrases such as "supports urinary tract health" drew the regulator's attention: they suggest a health benefit that buyers may take as proven.
The notices are also a reminder about the word "certified". An FSSAI licence or registration number on a pack shows that a business is registered to make or sell food. It does not mean the regulator has tested or endorsed the product. Using its logo in advertising is restricted for the same reason.
For households, the Zepto complaint touches the fastest-growing way many urban Indians now buy groceries. Quick-commerce apps deliver from small "dark stores" within minutes, and expiry dates on staples such as besan, atta and dals are easy to miss when an order is opened in a hurry, especially in the festive season when these flours are used heavily for sweets and snacks. A use-by date is about safety, not just taste: after it, the seller cannot vouch that the food is fit to eat.
It is important to read the action correctly. A notice asks a business to explain itself; it is not a finding that the company broke the law. The companies have a set period to reply, and no outcome had been reported at the time of writing.
| Company | What FSSAI questioned |
|---|---|
| Zepto | Delivery of besan past its use-by date |
| HealthyHey Foods | Health claim, colour declaration, "FSSAI certified" and "100% Natural" wording |
| BMS Lifescience | Expired registration and unapproved disease-risk claims |
| Bakelite Food Processing | Labelling and advertising of a cream roll |
| Storia Foods | Adjudication over pomegranate juice claims |
Impact
Short-term: The four businesses must reply within the period set in the notices, and Zepto must show what it did about the affected stock and the customer's refund. Other sellers of cranberry and similar supplements may review their label wording.
Long-term: The action adds to the regulator's recent attention on quick-commerce platforms and on health claims for supplements. Clearer enforcement can make labels more reliable for buyers.
Who is affected: Shoppers who use quick-commerce apps, buyers of herbal and nutritional supplements, food and supplement makers, online grocery platforms, and state food safety officers.
Key Takeaway
FSSAI's October 19 notices question one platform over expired besan and three firms over label and health claims, and they underline that an FSSAI number on a pack is a registration, not an endorsement.
Questions and Answers
Why did FSSAI send a notice to Zepto?
Over a complaint that two packs of besan delivered to a buyer had a use-by date of September 12, 2026. Zepto was asked to explain, confirm the stock was removed and describe refunds and steps to prevent a repeat.
What was wrong with the cranberry capsules, according to FSSAI?
The regulator questioned claims such as "Supports Urinary Tract Health" and disease-risk claims about the kidney and urinary tract, which need prior approval. It also raised wording like "100% Natural" and "FSSAI certified", and in one case an expired registration.
Does an FSSAI number on a product mean it is approved or tested?
No. It shows the business is licensed or registered to make or sell food. It is not an endorsement of the product or its claims.
Does a notice mean the companies broke the law?
Not yet. A notice asks a business to explain. FSSAI said it may take further action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 if the replies are not satisfactory.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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