FSSAI Cracks Down on Misleading ‘Healthy’ Claims, Issues Notices to Eight Food Brands
FSSAI has issued notices to eight food companies, including Emami Healthy & Tasty and Neuherbs, over branding and product claims that may mislead consumers about health benefits.
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to eight food companies, including Emami Healthy & Tasty, for brand names, labels and product claims that it says could possibly mislead consumers about the health benefits of their products.
Some branding and marketing practices may contravene the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, by overstating or misrepresenting nutritional and health-related attributes, the regulator said.
Also Read: FSSAI Issues Notices to Nestlé, KFC and Flipkart Over Consumer Complaints
Eight Brands Under Scrutiny:
According to reports, the companies served with notices include Emami Healthy & Tasty, Health Aid, Troovy, The Healthy Factory, Healthy Master, Healthy Choice, Plan B and Neuherbs.
FSSAI said it is investigating whether the use of product names, descriptors and promotional claims by these brands is compliant with existing food labelling and advertising regulations.
Among the brands under the scanner is Emami's edible oil brand Healthy & Tasty.
The trade name itself could give rise to a perception that the product has certain health benefits, which could affect consumers’ purchasing decisions, thereby raising concerns over regulatory compliance, the regulator said.
Questions Over Product Claims:
FSSAI also took objection to few product specific claims.
The regulator questioned use of the term “plant-based vegan” by Plan B, saying such claims require approval in advance under its licensing framework.
“Zero Maida Whole Wheat Bread” and “Zero Maida Pizza Base” products were flagged for the Healthy Factory. The FSSAI said the products contain ingredients like wheat gluten that could render the claim potentially misleading to consumers.
Neuherbs was scrutinised for its “True Vitamin” range with the regulator noting the term is not recognised or defined under current food regulations.
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Snack Brands and ‘Healthy’ Positioning:
Troovy, a snack maker, was also given a notice for using ‘healthy’ descriptors for products like veggie chips, ragi chips and moong dal chips.
The FSSAI said the use of such terminology may not be reflective of the nutritional profile of the products and may affect consumer perception.
And Healthy Master, Healthy Choice and Health Aid’s branding and taglines were also called out for potentially implying superior health benefits without adequate regulatory support.
Rising Focus on Food Labelling:
The regulator said the action forms part of broader efforts to curb misleading advertising and improve transparency in food labelling.
As demand for health-focused, clean-label and wellness-oriented products grows, authorities are increasingly scrutinising how brands communicate nutritional benefits and position products in the marketplace.
