FSSAI: Penal Action Against Amazon, Flipkart for Food Safety Violations

• The FSSAI has initiated penal action against Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, and Zepto for alleged food safety and regulatory non-compliances.
• Violations include misbranding, misleading claims, non-compliant product information, and the listing of prohibited food items.
• Specific actions relate to 'Happilo Premium Date Bites – Zesty Orange' across all five platforms and certain Milky Mist dairy products for Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket.
• These proceedings are based on the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and reflect increased regulatory scrutiny on online food businesses.
• The actions follow previous FSSAI warnings and dark store inspections that revealed food safety and hygiene violations.

Legal and compliance teams for e-commerce platforms and food businesses must urgently review product descriptions and claims for online listings to ensure strict adherence to FSSAI regulations and mitigate potential penal action, given the increased regulatory scrutiny.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated penal action against five prominent e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, citing alleged food safety and regulatory non-compliances. The regulatory body announced on September 23 that it is pursuing enforcement against Amazon, Flipkart India, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, and Zepto for various violations, including misbranding, misleading claims, non-compliant product information, and the listing or offering for sale of prohibited or poisonous food articles through their online channels.

Specifically, the FSSAI has taken action against all five platforms in connection with the product 'Happilo Premium Date Bites – Zesty Orange'. The regulator identified misleading or otherwise non-compliant claims associated with this product as displayed on these platforms. Consequently, Amazon Seller Services, Flipkart India, Swiggy Instamart, Zepto Marketplace, and Innovative Retail Concepts Pvt Ltd, which operates BigBasket, have all been named in the enforcement proceedings related to the Happilo product.

In addition to the widespread action concerning the Happilo product, separate proceedings have been initiated against Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket. These actions pertain to product claims and information for three specific Milky Mist dairy items: Fresh Low Fat Cream, Farm Fresh Curd, and Greek Yoghurt. The FSSAI highlighted concerns regarding misleading claims and non-compliant product information linked to these products when offered for sale through the respective platforms.

The FSSAI's actions are being pursued under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with other applicable regulations that govern food products and their sale via e-commerce platforms. This legal framework provides the basis for the FSSAI to ensure e-commerce food safety compliance in India and hold platforms accountable for the accuracy and legality of products listed.

These recent enforcement measures underscore an intensified regulatory focus on online food businesses and quick-commerce operations. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has indicated a significant increase in enforcement activities against food business operators and e-commerce companies over the past six months. The regulator is also actively using social media to inform consumers about these enforcement initiatives, signaling a broader campaign to enhance transparency and compliance in the digital food marketplace.

This heightened scrutiny is not entirely new; in July 2025, the FSSAI had already issued a warning to major e-commerce and food-delivery companies. That warning emphasized the critical need to strictly adhere to food safety and hygiene protocols, explicitly stating that non-compliance could trigger regulatory action. The current FSSAI penal action against Amazon Flipkart food safety violations and other platforms demonstrates a follow-through on these prior warnings.

The latest FSSAI penal action against Amazon Flipkart food safety issues and other platforms reflects a growing regulatory concern over product descriptions and representations on online marketplaces. As consumers increasingly rely on digital platforms for packaged foods, groceries, and other food products, the accuracy and compliance of online listings have become paramount. This trend places significant responsibility on e-commerce platforms and their vendors to ensure that all information provided is truthful and meets regulatory standards, particularly concerning misleading food claims online India.

These proceedings also align with broader inspections targeting the physical infrastructure of quick-commerce companies. For instance, in August 2026, Maharashtra's food regulator reportedly suspended the licenses of 14 food business establishments associated with Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart. These suspensions followed inspections of 'dark stores' — facilities used by quick-commerce providers — which uncovered various food safety and hygiene violations, highlighting systemic issues across the quick-commerce food regulations landscape.

Legal and compliance teams for e-commerce platforms and food businesses must urgently review product descriptions and claims for online listings to ensure strict adherence to FSSAI regulations and mitigate potential penal action, given the increased regulatory scrutiny. The FSSAI's consistent enforcement actions, from warnings to license suspensions and direct penal action against major platforms, signal a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance in the rapidly expanding online food sector.

Legal and compliance teams for e-commerce platforms and food businesses must urgently review product descriptions and claims for online listings to ensure strict adherence to FSSAI regulations and mitigate potential penal action, given the increased regulatory scrutiny.

Source: Original reporting via regulatory news outlets