FSSAI Bans Dabur's '100%' Claims on Food Products
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
FSSAI has issued a prohibition order against Dabur India for selling food products with misleading '100%' claims, such as '100% Natural' and '100% Pure'. This action highlights the regulator's crackdown on false advertising and its commitment to enforcing food safety regulations.
Background
The FSS (Advertising & Claims) Regulations, 2018, prohibit ambiguous and unverifiable claims that could mislead consumers. FSSAI has recently increased enforcement actions against food business operators and e-commerce platforms for violations.
Key facts
FSSAI prohibited Dabur from selling products with '100%' claims, including honey, apple cider vinegar, virgin coconut oil, sesame oil, cow ghee, coconut water, and coconut milk.
Misleading claims included '100% Natural', '100% Pure', '100% Purity Guaranteed', '100% Organic', and '100% Tender Coconut Water'.
The claims were found to contravene the FSS (Advertising & Claims) Regulations, 2018, as they are ambiguous, unverifiable, and likely to mislead consumers.
Dabur Himalayan Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and Dabur Organic Honey displayed the Jaivik Bharat Logo without valid FSSAI organic endorsement.
Dabur Hommade Coconut Milk was marketed with '100% Purity', which is not permissible for compound foods under the regulations.
FSSAI had earlier issued a notice to Dabur, but no satisfactory corrective action was taken.
FSSAI directed Dabur to immediately stop selling the identified products and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 15 days.
FSSAI has been using social media to inform the public about enforcement actions against various food business operators.
Prelims pointers
- FSSAI: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- FSS (Advertising & Claims) Regulations, 2018: Governs claims on food products.
- Jaivik Bharat Logo: Organic food certification mark in India.
- Action Taken Report (ATR): A report submitted to a regulatory body detailing corrective actions.
- FSSAI is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Mains angles
- GS2: Role of regulatory bodies in consumer protection and food safety.
- GS3: Issues related to food processing and misleading advertising.
- GS4: Ethical concerns in business practices and corporate accountability.