Archive · 23 Sep 2026
India Food Regulator Acts Against Five E-Commerce Platforms
India’s food safety regulator is taking action against five online grocery platforms.
The platforms are Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart, Zepto and BigBasket.
Inspectors found some products with labels or claims they considered misleading.
They also found Datura fruits and seeds listed on three platforms.
Datura is a poisonous plant.
A snack called Happilo Premium Date Bites was flagged on all five platforms.
Three Milky Mist dairy products were also flagged on two platforms.
The regulator wants online grocery companies to check food listings more carefully.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has initiated penal action against Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart, Zepto and BigBasket.
FSSAI cited misbranding, misleading claims and the sale or display of prohibited or poisonous food articles.
Happilo Premium Date Bites in Zesty Orange flavour was flagged for misleading and incorrect claims on all five platforms.
Datura fruits and seeds were flagged on Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket because the plant is poisonous.
Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket also face action over product claims and information for three Milky Mist dairy products.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and five e-commerce platforms: Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart, Zepto and BigBasket.
- What
- FSSAI initiated penal action over alleged misbranding, misleading claims and the sale or display of prohibited or poisonous food articles.
- When
- The article does not provide a specific date; it says the regulator has begun action.
- Where
- On the five e-commerce platforms operating in India.
- Why
- To address food-safety and regulatory violations and push platforms to conduct greater due diligence on listed products.
- Regulator
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Platforms named
- Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart, Zepto and BigBasket
- Main violations
- Misbranding, misleading claims, and sale or display of prohibited or poisonous food articles
- Product flagged on all five platforms
- Happilo Premium Date Bites, Zesty Orange flavour
- Poisonous item flagged
- Datura fruits and seeds on Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket
- Dairy products flagged
- Milky Mist Fresh Low Fat Cream, Farm Fresh Curd and Greek Yoghurt
- Regulatory expectation
- Platforms should conduct greater due diligence on food products listed and sold online