India's Food Regulator FSSAI Cracks Down on Misleading Labels

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to more than ten food companies for violating labeling rules and making unsubstantiated health claims. Products cited include Incipro Gold Power Vanilla, Korean Ginseng, Raw Pressery Alphonso Mango Drink and others that advertised benefits such as weight loss, brain development and detoxification without scientific support. The regulator warned that misbranded items can face fines up to ₹3 lakh and called for stricter enforcement and front‑of‑pack warning labels.

In a related move, FSSAI announced a ban, effective July, on the use of “100 %”, “100 % pure” and similar claims on food packaging. Companies must redesign labels for hundreds of product variants, a process that could cost crores and require new artwork, approvals and printing plates. Industry observers note the regulation aims to improve transparency for consumers, though it raises significant operational and financial burdens for the sector, which contributes about 17.6 % to India’s gross value added and employs over seven million people.