FSSAI issues notices to Zepto, 4 firms over food safety and labelling violations
Synopsis
FSSAI has moved against five food businesses in a single enforcement sweep — putting quick commerce giant Zepto on notice over allegedly expired besan deliveries, flagging two cranberry supplement brands for unapproved disease claims, calling out a cream roll for misleading dairy imagery, and escalating to full adjudication against Storia Foods over a pomegranate juice whose label may promise far more fruit than it contains.
Key Takeaways
FSSAI issued enforcement notices to Zepto Marketplace Pvt Ltd , HealthyHey Foods LLP , Bakelite Food Processing Pvt Ltd , and BMS Lifescience on 19 October 2026 .
Zepto was asked to explain the alleged delivery of besan packets past their 'Use By: 12 September 2026' date.
HealthyHey and BMS Lifescience face scrutiny for unapproved urinary tract health claims; BMS Lifescience was additionally flagged for marketing under an expired registration certificate .
Bakelite Food Processing 's 'Malpani's Bake-Lite Puneri Cream Roll' — sold on Blinkit and Zepto — was flagged for allegedly misleading 'Cream Roll' and 'Creamy' branding despite containing no dairy ingredients.
Formal adjudication proceedings were sanctioned against Storia Foods & Beverages over a pomegranate juice product containing only 4 per cent pomegranate concentrate and carrying disputed 'No Added Sugar' and '100 per cent Fruit Juice' claims.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday, 19 October 2026, issued enforcement notices to quick commerce platform Zepto Marketplace Pvt Ltd and three food business operators — HealthyHey Foods LLP, Bakelite Food Processing Pvt Ltd, and BMS Lifescience — over alleged violations related to food safety, labelling, and advertising claims. Separately, the regulator sanctioned adjudication proceedings against Storia Foods & Beverages Pvt Ltd over misleading claims on a pomegranate juice product.
FSSAI said the enforcement actions were taken as part of its ongoing efforts to protect consumer interests and ensure strict compliance with food safety regulations.
Zepto and the Expired Besan Complaint
In its notice to Zepto Marketplace Pvt Ltd, FSSAI sought an explanation regarding a consumer complaint alleging the delivery of two packets of besan that were past their stated use-by date. According to the regulator, the products reportedly carried a 'Use By: 12 September 2026' marking and were allegedly delivered after expiry. FSSAI has directed Zepto to verify the complaint and furnish details related to the order, delivery, warehouse, seller, and product in question.
HealthyHey and BMS Lifescience: Unapproved Health Claims
A separate notice was issued to HealthyHey Foods LLP over alleged misleading claims on its 'HealthyHey Nutrition Natural Cranberry Extract 25 per cent Capsules'. The regulator flagged discrepancies in colour declarations on product labels and identified the claim 'Supports Urinary Tract Health' as a disease-risk-reduction or health claim requiring prior regulatory approval — approval that was reportedly not obtained.
Similarly, FSSAI issued a notice to BMS Lifescience over its 'HAOG'S Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Capsules', which the regulator said was being marketed under an expired registration certificate. The product allegedly carried claims relating to urinary tract infections, kidney health, and disease prevention — all of which, FSSAI said, require prior approval under applicable food safety standards.
Bakelite Food Processing: Misleading 'Cream Roll' Branding
FSSAI's notice to Bakelite Food Processing Pvt Ltd concerns the labelling and marketing of its 'Malpani's Bake-Lite Puneri Cream Roll', sold via e-commerce platforms including Blinkit and Zepto. According to the regulator, the product's ingredients list includes refined wheat flour, hydrogenated vegetable fat, margarine, and sugar — with no milk, milk fat, cream, or other dairy ingredients. FSSAI said the use of terms such as 'Cream Roll' and 'Creamy', along with imagery depicting a creamy filling, could mislead consumers about the product's actual composition.
Storia Foods: Adjudication Over Pomegranate Juice Claims
The most advanced regulatory action was taken against Storia Foods & Beverages Pvt Ltd, against which FSSAI has sanctioned formal adjudication proceedings. The regulator said the company's pomegranate juice product contained only 4 per cent pomegranate juice concentrate and 12 per cent apple juice concentrate, while its branding and imagery allegedly created a misleading impression about composition. Specific concerns were raised over label claims such as 'Equivalent to 100 per cent Fruit Juice (Reconstituted)' and 'No Added Sugar', as well as labelling related to reconstituted juice. FSSAI said the company's explanation was found unsatisfactory following inspection, sampling, and label scrutiny, leading to the adjudication sanction.
Broader Regulatory Context
This sweep of enforcement actions reflects a broader pattern of FSSAI stepping up scrutiny of quick commerce platforms and direct-to-consumer food brands, particularly over health claims that critics argue often go unverified before products reach shelves. Notably, two of the five actions involve cranberry-based supplement products making urinary tract health claims — a category that has seen rapid growth on e-commerce platforms without corresponding regulatory oversight. The outcomes of these proceedings could set a precedent for how FSSAI handles health claims on nutraceuticals and functional foods going forward.
Point of View
Sold on the same platforms, making near-identical unapproved health claims. That is less a coincidence and more a systemic gap in pre-market review. The Storia Foods adjudication, meanwhile, raises a fundamental question about fruit juice labelling norms in India — if a product is predominantly apple juice, 'pomegranate juice' front-of-pack branding is arguably consumer deception, not just a technical mislabelling. Whether these proceedings result in meaningful penalties or pro-forma settlements will determine whether this sweep genuinely deters future violations.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did FSSAI issue a notice to Zepto?
FSSAI issued a notice to Zepto Marketplace Pvt Ltd over a consumer complaint alleging that two packets of besan were delivered past their stated 'Use By: 12 September 2026' date. The regulator has directed Zepto to verify the complaint and provide details on the order, delivery, warehouse, seller, and product.
What violations were flagged against HealthyHey Foods and BMS Lifescience?
Both companies were flagged for making health claims related to urinary tract health on their cranberry supplement products without obtaining prior regulatory approval, as required under FSSAI norms. BMS Lifescience was additionally found to be marketing its product under an expired registration certificate.
What is the issue with Storia Foods' pomegranate juice?
FSSAI found that Storia Foods' pomegranate juice product contained only 4 per cent pomegranate juice concentrate and 12 per cent apple juice concentrate, while its branding and imagery allegedly misled consumers about the product's composition. Claims such as 'Equivalent to 100 per cent Fruit Juice (Reconstituted)' and 'No Added Sugar' were also disputed, leading to formal adjudication proceedings.
Why was Bakelite Food Processing issued a notice?
FSSAI said the company's 'Malpani's Bake-Lite Puneri Cream Roll' — sold on Blinkit and Zepto — used terms like 'Cream Roll' and 'Creamy' along with images of a creamy filling, even though the product contains no milk, milk fat, cream, or other dairy ingredients. The regulator said this could mislead consumers about the product's actual composition.
What happens next after FSSAI's notices and adjudication proceedings?
Companies that received notices are required to respond with explanations and supporting documentation. In the case of Storia Foods, adjudication proceedings have already been sanctioned after the company's initial explanation was found unsatisfactory — a more advanced stage that can lead to regulatory penalties. The outcomes could set a precedent for FSSAI's treatment of health claims in the fast-growing nutraceutical and quick commerce segments.
