Central Consumer Protection Authority
imposed a ₹1 lakh penalty each on Storia Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd. and Mrs.
Bectors Food Specialities Ltd. for misleading advertisements related to food
products
¨
Central Consumer
Protection Authority (CCPA) imposed a ₹1 lakh penalty each on Storia Foods and
Beverages Pvt. Ltd. and Mrs. Bectors Food Specialities Ltd. for misleading
advertisements related to food products.
¨
The action was taken
under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the Guidelines for Prevention of
Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022.
¨
The CCPA is a statutory
authority established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
¨
It has the power to
investigate misleading advertisements, order their discontinuation, and impose
penalties for unfair trade practices and false claims.
¨
The 2022 Guidelines apply
to advertisements containing false, deceptive, or unsubstantiated claims.
¨
These guidelines cover
product packaging, websites, and digital platforms used for consumer-facing
advertisements.
¨
The term "100%"
is considered an absolute numerical claim in food labelling.
¨
Such claims must
accurately reflect the actual composition of the product, including
ingredients, reconstituted content, and additives.
¨
In the case of Storia
Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd., products marketed as "100% Tender Coconut
Water" and "100% Juice" were found to be reconstituted from
concentrate with added water.
¨
Some products labelled
"100% Natural" were also found to contain preservatives such as INS
202, making the claims misleading.
¨ Mrs. Bectors Food Specialities Ltd., which markets products under the English Oven brand, was penalised for claims such as "100% Atta Bread" and "100% Whole Wheat Bread."
¨ The products contained only 87% whole wheat flour, which did not match the front-of-pack "100%" claims, thereby misleading consumers.
