NEW DELHI: That “100% Natural” cream bun may contain preservatives. A “Premium Chocolate” could be made with hydrogenated vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter. And a fruit-flavoured candy may not contain any fruit at all.In a major crackdown on misleading food labels, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued show-cause notices to Lotte India Corporation Pvt Ltd, Ferns N Petals Pvt Ltd and Kubera Foods, alleging that several products carried front-of-pack claims that could mislead consumers about their ingredients and nutritional content. The companies have been asked to explain within seven days why action should not be initiated against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act.AIIMS Delhi dietitian Monita Gehlot said food labels are an important source of information, helping consumers make informed dietary choices. “The information presented on the front of the pack should align with the detailed information provided on the back. Consumers should read the ingredient list, nutrition information, allergen declarations and other mandatory disclosures before making food choices,” she said. Kubera Foods came under scrutiny for marketing its “Soft and Fresh Cream Bun Pineapple” as “100% Natural” and claiming it contained “No Preservatives, Colours & Flavours”, even though the label declared preservatives, synthetic colour and added flavouring substances. FSSAI also objected to the use of terms such as “Pure”, “Fresh” and “Natural”.Ferns N Petals was served a notice over its “Roasted Almond Chocolate”, marketed as “Premium Chocolate”. FSSAI alleged it contained hydrogenated vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter, lacked mandatory declarations and did not disclose almond content.Lotte India faced notices over multiple products. FSSAI alleged misleading “100% Vegetarian” claims on some Choco Pie variants, missing nutritional information on Pepero biscuit sticks, and fruit-flavoured Fruitz Eclairs that contained no fruit. It also flagged old pre-printed labels and vitamin-level violations in some lollipops.
