FSSAI intensifies crackdown as major food, beverage brands face notices
India’s food regulator has issued more than 150 notices to leading food, beverage and food-service companies over advertising, labelling and food-safety violations.
INDIA – India’s food safety regulator has stepped up scrutiny of the country’s food and beverage industry, issuing more than 150 notices to companies over misleading advertisements, false claims and labelling violations.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has targeted a broad range of major consumer brands, highlighting increasing regulatory pressure across packaged foods, beverages, alcohol and food-service operations.
Companies named in FSSAI data include Nestle India, PepsiCo, Mondelez India, Coca-Cola India, Danone India, Ferrero India, Diageo, Pernod Ricard and energy-drink manufacturers Red Bull, Monster and Hell Energy.
The regulator has also seized products found to be non-compliant with food-safety and standards requirements.
Its enforcement activity extends beyond manufacturers and brand owners, with 12 notices issued to quick-commerce platforms, including Flipkart Minutes and Amazon Now. An Amazon warehouse also had its food licence cancelled, according to FSSAI data.
The action reflects the growing importance of regulatory compliance as India’s packaged food and beverage market expands and consumers increasingly rely on digital platforms and quick-commerce services to purchase products.
Food-service businesses are also facing heightened scrutiny. More than 30 notices were issued to major operators including KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Costa Coffee and McDonald’s.
The regulator has additionally issued more than 20 notices to hotels and restaurants, including international hospitality groups such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Radisson Hotel Group, Four Seasons and Shangri-La.
Some of the violations involving hotels and restaurants relate to calorie disclosure and menu labelling, signalling a broader regulatory focus on the information provided to consumers at the point of purchase.
The enforcement drive comes as food regulators globally place greater emphasis on transparency, nutrition information and responsible marketing.
For multinational food and beverage companies operating in India, the development highlights the need to align global marketing practices and product labelling with increasingly detailed local requirements.
For manufacturers, the implications extend beyond individual products. Misleading claims or inaccurate labels can expose brands to regulatory action while potentially affecting consumer trust, particularly in categories where health, nutrition and product composition are key purchasing considerations.
India’s expanding food economy is also bringing new distribution channels into the regulatory spotlight.
The inclusion of quick-commerce platforms demonstrates how responsibility for food safety and compliance is increasingly extending across the supply chain, from manufacturers and warehouses to digital retailers and restaurants.
With more than 150 notices already issued, FSSAI’s latest enforcement activity sends a clear signal that food safety, advertising claims and labelling standards will remain a major compliance priority for India’s consumer food and beverage industry.
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