FSSAI’s new digital reporting tool advances transparency in food labelling
The initiative reflects FSSAI’s ongoing efforts to protect consumer rights and strengthen food safety regulations in the country.
INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a new digital tool for consumers to directly report misleading claims made on food product labels.
Complaints can now be submitted through the Food Safety Connect mobile app (available on Google Play and Apple App Store) or via the Consumer Grievance section of the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal.
The process begins with registration, where users provide their information to access the grievance system. Once enrolled, they can submit a complaint with relevant details and documents.
A tracking number is then issued to monitor the complaint’s progress, with the Food Business Operator first reviewing and addressing the grievance, and the Designated Officer stepping in if further action is needed to ensure proper resolution.
The impact of FSSAI’s digital tool on transparency and food safety
This digital initiative reflects FSSAI’s ongoing efforts to promote transparency, protect consumer rights and strengthen food safety regulations in the country.
The tool facilitates easy submission of essential details such as front-of-pack images highlighting the misleading claim, the FSSAI license or registration number of the manufacturer, and the e-commerce URL if the product is being sold online.
Information submitted will further support regulatory authorities in taking prompt and evidence-based action against non-compliant Food Business Operators (FBOs).
This consumer-centric step builds upon FSSAI’s regulatory framework under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018 and the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020.
They mandate that all claims made on food products must be truthful, unambiguous, meaningful, not misleading, and the claim that a food has certain nutritional or health attributes shall be scientifically substantiated.
The initiative is further aligned with the FSSAI’s Advertisement and Claims Monitoring Committee (AMC) function, which monitors claims made on the label and in the advertisement of food products to check regulatory compliance.
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