New Delhi: India’s food safety regulator has stepped up enforcement against food and beverage companies, issuing more than 150 notices in recent months over alleged misleading advertisements, false claims and violations of food-labelling rules. The action involves several major brands and signals growing regulatory scrutiny of how food products are promoted to consumers.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said the notices were issued as part of its recent enforcement drive against food business operators that allegedly failed to comply with provisions of food-safety and labelling regulations. The regulator has also directed businesses to take corrective measures where violations were identified.
Major brands come under the regulator’s scanner
Among the companies named by FSSAI are Nestle India, PepsiCo, Abbott India, Red Bull India, Danone India, Monster Energy India, Hell Energy, Mondelez India and Coca-Cola India.
The list also includes companies operating in other beverage and food categories, such as Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Ferrero India and Kenvue. The regulator's action therefore covers a broad range of products rather than being limited to one particular segment of the food industry.
The notices concern alleged violations involving advertisements, product claims and information presented on labels. Such information can influence consumers' understanding of a product's ingredients, nutritional characteristics and potential benefits.
What FSSAI is targeting
One of the central concerns is the use of claims that could give consumers an inaccurate impression about a product.
Recent regulatory scrutiny has focused on words and phrases such as “healthy,” “natural,” “fresh,” “protein-packed,” “no added sugar” and “100%.” FSSAI has increasingly questioned whether companies can substantiate such claims and whether their use complies with applicable food regulations.
The issue is particularly important as India's food market has expanded rapidly, with consumers increasingly choosing products marketed around health, nutrition, fitness and “clean-label” characteristics.
A product promoted as healthier or more natural can command greater consumer attention and potentially influence purchasing decisions. Regulators therefore want such claims to be accurate rather than simply attractive marketing language.
Labelling is another major concern
FSSAI's action extends beyond advertising.
The regulator has been examining product descriptions, ingredient declarations, nutritional information, product categories and packaging claims. Earlier enforcement actions identified issues involving inaccurate descriptions and ingredient declarations as well as inappropriate or misleading packaging information.
In several cases, companies changed their labels or marketing material after receiving notices.
Recent examples include companies removing or modifying “100%” claims after regulatory intervention. FSSAI's approach indicates that the regulator expects businesses to review claims before products reach consumers rather than waiting for complaints or enforcement action.
Energy drinks and health claims face scrutiny
Energy and functional beverages are another area receiving attention.
Some products have been marketed using claims suggesting benefits such as improved concentration, increased energy or other health-related effects. Regulators and experts have questioned whether some of these statements are adequately supported and whether consumers could interpret them as therapeutic or scientifically established benefits.
The scrutiny is significant because consumers may associate words such as “energy,” “focus” or “performance” with specific physiological benefits. FSSAI's enforcement efforts are aimed at ensuring that marketing does not go beyond what can legitimately be claimed about a product.
Action also extends to restaurants and e-commerce
The enforcement campaign is not limited to manufacturers.
FSSAI said it has issued more than 30 notices to food-service establishments, including major restaurant chains such as KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Domino's and Costa Coffee. Five Domino's licences were also suspended, according to the regulator.
E-commerce platforms have also come under scrutiny. FSSAI said 12 notices were issued to Amazon and Flipkart, while the licence of one Amazon warehouse was cancelled.
This wider action shows that the regulator is examining different stages of the food supply and marketing chain, from manufacturing and packaging to online sales and restaurants.
Companies begin making corrections
The enforcement drive has already resulted in changes by several businesses.
FSSAI recently said companies had begun taking corrective action after receiving notices. Some firms have modified product labels, changed classifications, removed claims or adjusted advertising material to comply with regulations.
For example, recent enforcement over “100%” claims resulted in several companies withdrawing or changing those statements. Such changes demonstrate how regulatory notices can directly affect the way products are presented to consumers.
The regulator's objective is not simply to penalise businesses but also to ensure that products entering the market carry information that consumers can understand and rely upon.
Why misleading claims matter to consumers
Food labels are often the first source of information consumers use when choosing between products.
A claim such as “no added sugar,” “natural,” “healthy” or “organic” can influence purchasing decisions, particularly among people who are deliberately trying to improve their diet.
If such claims are inaccurate or insufficiently supported, consumers may pay more for a product or choose it believing it has qualities that it does not actually possess.
That is why labelling regulations are an important part of consumer protection. Accurate information allows consumers to compare products based on ingredients and nutritional characteristics rather than potentially exaggerated marketing messages.
FSSAI signals tougher enforcement
The latest action represents a significant expansion of FSSAI's enforcement efforts. With more than 150 notices issued against food companies, the regulator is making clear that large brands are not exempt from scrutiny.
The action also comes after a series of recent cases in which companies changed their products following FSSAI intervention. The pattern suggests that regulators are increasingly examining not only whether food is safe to consume, but also whether the information used to sell it is accurate and compliant.
For food companies, the message is straightforward: advertising and packaging claims must be supported, properly worded and consistent with food-safety regulations.
For consumers, the crackdown could mean clearer labels and fewer exaggerated claims on supermarket shelves and online platforms.
A broader shift toward consumer transparency
The FSSAI action reflects a broader shift in India's food market, where consumers are increasingly interested in nutrition, ingredients and health-related benefits.
As companies compete to attract health-conscious buyers, words on packaging can become almost as important as the product itself. The regulator's intervention seeks to ensure that this competition does not come at the cost of truthful information.
The latest notices therefore represent more than a warning to individual brands. They underline FSSAI's effort to establish a stricter standard for food marketing in India—one in which companies are expected to substantiate what they promise and consumers are given accurate information before making purchasing decisions.
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