FSSAI Food Labelling Rules and Action on Misleading Claims (India)

¨     Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulates food labelling, brand names, and product claims under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

¨   In June 2026, FSSAI issued notices to food business operators for using misleading claims such as “healthy”, “organic”, “zero maida”, “true vitamin”, and “plant-based vegan” on packaged foods.

¨     The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is the main law governing food safety and standards in India.

¨     FSSAI enforces rules on food composition, labelling, advertising, and misleading claims under this Act.

¨     Under the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, food labels must be truthful, clear, and transparent about ingredients.

¨     Trade or brand names that mislead consumers about a product’s nature can lead to regulatory action.

¨     FSSAI has flagged claims like “healthy” and “zero maida” when products still contain ingredients such as wheat flour or wheat gluten.

¨     The term “true vitamin” is not officially defined under food regulations and has also been questioned.

¨     Organic certification in India is linked to systems like the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).

¨     Certified organic products may use the Jaivik Bharat logo.

¨     Vegan or plant-based claims must comply with FSSAI labelling rules and cannot be used without proper approval or certification.