FSSAI bans Venolex Forte, suspends Matri Drinking Water licence in Tripura
Synopsis
FSSAI has banned Venolex Forte outright and suspended a Tripura water brand's licence in a single enforcement sweep — the product contained unpermitted pharmacologically active ingredients and carried labelling designed to falsely imply FSSAI approval. The double action signals that the regulator is increasingly treating misleading supplement branding as a public health risk, not just a paperwork violation.
Key Takeaways
FSSAI on 3 August issued a prohibition order against Noble Healthcare, Mohali, Punjab , banning manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of Venolex Forte with immediate effect.
Venolex Forte was found to contain unpermitted pharmacologically active ingredients: Calcium Dobesilate , Diosmin , and Euphorbia Prostrata .
The product's Vitamin C content of 90 mg reportedly exceeds the RDA prescribed under ICMR-NIN Guidelines, 2020 .
FSSAI found the product's labelling misleading — it displayed an FSSAI licence number in a manner that falsely implied regulatory endorsement.
Matri Drinking Water's licence in Tripura was separately suspended for serious food safety violations.
The action was taken under Section 36(3)(b) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 .
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday, 3 August moved against two food businesses in a stepped-up enforcement drive, suspending the licence of Matri Drinking Water in Tripura and issuing a prohibition order against Noble Healthcare of Mohali, Punjab, over serious violations of food safety regulations. The twin actions signal a toughening regulatory posture ahead of what FSSAI has described as a sustained enforcement push across food sectors.
Prohibition Order Against Noble Healthcare
FSSAI has prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of Noble Healthcare's product Venolex Forte with immediate effect, invoking Section 36(3)(b) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The regulator said the action followed multiple critical non-compliances detected during regulatory scrutiny.
According to FSSAI, Venolex Forte contains pharmacologically active ingredients — including Calcium Dobesilate, Diosmin, and Euphorbia Prostrata — that are not permitted under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2022. The regulator further noted that the product's Vitamin C content of 90 mg appears to exceed the Recommended Dietary Allowance prescribed under the ICMR-NIN Guidelines, 2020.
Misleading Labelling and False Regulatory Impression
FSSAI found that Venolex Forte was marketed as a 'Dietary Food Supplement' while prominently displaying an FSSAI licence number directly below the product name. The regulator said this created a misleading impression that the product had been specifically approved or endorsed by FSSAI — which it had not been.
The product's labelling and overall presentation were also found to cause confusion about its legal and regulatory status, potentially misleading consumers about its actual compliance standing. FSSAI declared the product prima facie non-compliant with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and regulations framed under it.
Matri Drinking Water Licence Suspended
Separately, FSSAI suspended the operating licence of Matri Drinking Water in Tripura, also citing serious food safety violations detected during regulatory scrutiny. Specific details of the violations in this case were not disclosed by the regulator, but the suspension carries immediate operational consequences for the business.
'FSSAI has suspended license of Matri Drinking Water, Tripura and has issued prohibition order to Noble Healthcare, Punjab for serious food safety violations,' the regulator stated in a post on social media platform X, adding that it 'continues to maintain strict enforcement across food sectors to protect consumer health.'
Broader Enforcement Context
The dual action on 3 August is part of a wider regulatory crackdown that FSSAI has been conducting across food categories. Notably, the use of pharmacologically active ingredients in products labelled as food supplements has emerged as a recurring compliance flashpoint — blurring the line between regulated drugs and food products in ways that regulators argue pose direct consumer health risks.
With FSSAI invoking its immediate prohibition powers rather than issuing a show-cause notice, the Noble Healthcare action represents one of the more decisive interventions under the 2006 Act's enforcement provisions. Industry observers will watch whether the regulator follows up with product recalls or further penal proceedings.
Point of View
With an FSSAI licence number weaponised to suggest official approval. FSSAI's decision to invoke an immediate prohibition rather than a notice-and-reply process is significant — it suggests the regulator views the public health risk as too acute for procedural delay. The harder question is systemic: how many similar products are on shelves right now, carrying FSSAI numbers that consumers reasonably misread as endorsements? The Matri Drinking Water suspension, with minimal public detail, also raises transparency concerns — consumers in Tripura deserve to know what violations triggered the action.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has FSSAI banned Venolex Forte?
FSSAI banned Venolex Forte because it contains pharmacologically active ingredients — Calcium Dobesilate, Diosmin, and Euphorbia Prostrata — that are not permitted under food supplement regulations. The product also had misleading labelling that falsely implied FSSAI approval, and its Vitamin C content reportedly exceeded prescribed dietary limits.
What is the legal basis for the FSSAI prohibition on Venolex Forte?
The prohibition was issued under Section 36(3)(b) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which empowers FSSAI to ban a product with immediate effect when serious non-compliance with food safety regulations is detected.
Why was Matri Drinking Water's licence suspended?
FSSAI suspended the licence of Matri Drinking Water in Tripura for serious food safety violations detected during regulatory scrutiny. The regulator has not publicly disclosed the specific nature of the violations beyond citing multiple critical non-compliances.
What does the FSSAI action mean for consumers who have used Venolex Forte?
Consumers who have used Venolex Forte should be aware that the product has been found to contain unpermitted pharmacologically active ingredients and is now banned from sale. Those with health concerns related to its use are advised to consult a medical professional.
Is displaying an FSSAI licence number on a product proof of FSSAI approval?
No. An FSSAI licence number on a product indicates that the manufacturer is registered or licensed to produce food products — it does not mean FSSAI has specifically approved or endorsed that product. FSSAI flagged this distinction in the Venolex Forte case, calling the presentation misleading.
