The regulator flagged cholesterol and heart-health claims made in the promotion of Freedom Cooking Rice Bran Oil and separately raised concerns over Gemini Edibles’ ecommerce licensing
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to Gemini Edibles & Fats India, BigBasket and Flipkart over allegedly impermissible cholesterol and heart-health claims made in the promotion of Freedom Cooking Rice Bran Oil. The regulator has also flagged a potential licensing violation by Gemini Edibles over the sale of food products through its own ecommerce website.
In a social media post on Friday, FSSAI said it had issued notices to Hyderabad-based Gemini Edibles and Fats India, Innovative Retail Concepts, which operates BigBasket, and Flipkart India over promotional material for the rice bran oil. The claims included ‘Reduces bad cholesterol and maintains/increases good cholesterol’ and references to 10,000 PPM Natural Oryzanol.
“The cholesterol and heart-health claims were found to be not covered/permitted under the applicable claims for edible vegetable oil (rice bran oil) under the Advertising and Claims Regulations, 2018,” FSSAI said.
The regulator has asked the three companies to explain why action should not be initiated against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The notices concern the alleged violations, and no final penalties against the companies have been announced in connection with the claims.
Separately, FSSAI said Gemini Edibles and Fats India was found offering or selling food products through its own ecommerce website without appearing to hold a valid central licence covering e-commerce activity.
In other enforcement actions, FSSAI suspended the licence of DNV Food Products Ltd after an inspection found serious non-compliances relating to hygiene, sanitation, storage and licensing. The regulator also cancelled the licence of Jhanvittanni over continued non-compliance with food safety rules and regulations.
