How to file a complaint against false claims about food products at FSSAI


Overview: With multinational companies making headway with globalization, there are numerous instances where we come across advertisements where false claims with respect to the weight, nutritional value, ingredients etc of the item for consumption are made in order to induce sales.  Such unfair trade practices have a detrimental effect on the consumer’s health and they may face health hazards because of such claims.

 

Instances include products making claims of weight loss on consumption, healthy heart, and faster growth for children, adulteration, packaging, expired food products, the absence of labeling, an insect found in food product etc.

 

Purpose: To give consumers a voice against corporate giants when they are found to be making false/unauthorized claims to sell their product. Under the Indian law, an aggrieved person can approach the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a specialized body set up to address the grievances of consumers regarding food products.   

 

Areas of Application of Law: Provisions of Food Safety Standards Act, 2006

 

Process: Below is the step by step process for filing a complaint against unfair trade practices relating to food products:

 

  1. To begin with engage a lawyer who will understand your situation as an aggrieved person/company and how the alleged false claims hold consequences for you as a consumer or competitor.
  2. The lawyer will send a legal notice to the person/company running the advertisement making false claims about the product in which he will bring to their attention its negative effect on the complainant and make a claim for damages in money.
  3. On failure to receive a reply, either written or through mail, the complainant through his lawyer can approach the FSSAI through a complaint.
  4. A complaint at FSSAI can be made either through a toll free no- 1800112100, through Whatsapp or SMS on 9868686868, through email at compliance@fssai.gov.in.
  5. One can also go through the “Food Safety Concern,” on its website to lodge complaints related to packed food or even food outlets including roadside eateries.
  6. Alternatively, the complainant can address his complain directly to the FSSAI office.
  7. It will consist of details of the grievance such as where the food product was purchased from, what it claimed and its detrimental effect including health risks on the complainant upon consumption.
  8. On receipt of a complaint, the FSSAI, depending on the nature of the complaint will refer them to the specific Food Business Operators (FBO) for appropriate action within defined timeframe.
  9. The parties will then be given a chance to explain their stand for which they will be given a personal hearing.
  10. FSSAI will also independently conduct tests, to verify the claims made regarding the food product in question. It will also determine if the food product is being sold in accordance with the regulatory framework.
  11. If the complaint is upheld, FSSAI will issue directions which may include restraining the sale of the product immediately or within a certain time frame, making modification in the food product depending on deficiencies found and/or payment of compensation to the complainant- depending on the loss caused.
  12. An appeal from the decision of the FSSAI can be brought at the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). An appeal from that decision will be made at the Supreme Court.

 

Documents required to be submitted, if any: The complainant must share the following documents with the lawyer:

 

1. Details/Address of the place where he purchased the food product from (name of store/shop/locality).

2. Pictures taken showing the defect (packaging/expiry date)

3. Medical reports concluding an ingredient of the food product posing to be a health risk (in cases of adulteration).

 

Punishment/Expected Relief: Depending on facts and circumstances of each case, FSSAI will issue directions which may include restraining the sale of the product immediately or within a certain time frame, making modification of the food product depending on deficiencies found and/or payment of compensation to the complainant.

 

Landmark Judgments: 1. The food safety regulator directed Nestle India to immediately withdraw all nine variants of its Maggi noodles from the market, calling them “unsafe, hazardous and unfit” for human consumption due to high level of monosodium glutamate in the taste maker:  Nestle India Ltd. v FSSAI (https://indiankanoon.org/doc/66718388/).

 

2. The Delhi high court allowed for the sale of an assortment of Guliyan belgian chocolates after the petitioner (importer) cured labeling defects, in accordance with the FSSAI ruling: United Distributors v UOI (https://indiankanoon.org/doc/35761458/).

User Comments

Vijay   6 May 2024 2:02am
Hello sir iam from madurai I have a complaint about restaurant junior kuppana (Kodaikanal) the food and mutton curry and chicken varieties are stored read more
Reply
Anirban Nath   22 Apr 2024 11:24pm
As per ingredients section of Kissan Jam it is written that per 100 grams there is 62 grams of added sugar. Does that mean if I am consuming 62.6 grams read more
Reply
Surinder Dev Sharma   24 May 2023 3:09pm
1. I am a resident of DLF Valley, Pinjore Kalka Urban Estate, Near Amravati Enclave, Panchkula-134105, Haryana to inform that I purchased "Rasmalai" of read more
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Capt Surinder Dev Sharma   16 Apr 2024 5:51pm
No reply has since been received till today.
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Sonu   24 Apr 2023 3:50am
If one community mixing unhealthy substance in food What we do? It problem facing most people
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Nishant jetwa   3 Mar 2023 11:42pm
Hi, this informed you that there hotel call PVs pizza which legally not authorised for prepared foods and other think , however they suppy the pizzas read more
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Sai   20 Jan 2023 12:16pm
In Kachiguda railway station badam milk I drinken totally not at good please check
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Akram Shaikh   11 Oct 2022 12:17am
Duplicate Amul butter manufacturing unit At Padghe Bhiwandi thane Maharashtra
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Manohar jha   4 Sep 2022 5:39pm
Tata i shkati Salt mixing a other powder
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S.das   6 Aug 2022 12:28am
Complain kaya karu. Kar ne se dar lagta hain. Agar unlog ko mera no mera naam malom hone se mujhe pare ga. Sab k sath un logo ka touch hain, owner, police, read more
Reply
Basha   2 Jun 2022 10:59pm
Sry date is 02/06/2022 10pm
Reply
Basha   2 Jun 2022 10:57pm
Today 02/05/2022 now going Chennai to trichy bus 10 pm stop the bus in vikkiramavandi Sri annapoorna hotel very very bad quality food pls action this read more
Reply
jamil Ibrahim Shaikh   23 Jan 2022 11:37am
Food laisans
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Satwik Bose   29 Dec 2021 12:47pm
Last day 28/12/2021 , myself brought Mewa Atta Laddo packer from C R park Mother dairy booth no 005 Bad smell very rough odour from packet, non able to read more
Reply
Saurav Kohli   19 Dec 2021 1:33pm
Sufis multicusine restaurant and coffee shop nandankanan road bhuvneshwar during these pandemic days they r surving spoiled items even not following and read more
Reply
Vikash shakya   27 Nov 2021 11:26pm
Shiri gopal namkeen complents
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Shantanu Dixit   27 Nov 2021 1:23am
I have ordered from Zomato 1 Veg Biryani & 1 Chicken Biriyani. Biryani means the type of rice should be of biryani but they send the khichdi rice and read more
Reply
Sagar Supekar   4 Nov 2021 8:33pm
Success ortho is froud. I have buy a packet of Ortho powder.. They gurranteened to result of 100% otherwise all money will be return. nothing is mention read more
Reply
Shubham shitole   27 Oct 2021 5:58pm
My complaint against bad or dirty milk powder mixing in milk in my near place ...he making milk using chemical and buying big dairies in my area plz raid read more
Reply
Sanjana Singh   12 Oct 2021 4:34am
I want to complain about hori lal paan netaji subhash place.i have found a tape worm in my paan due yo which i could have die while eating it
Reply
Kamlesh pasham   11 Oct 2021 2:13am
I want to raise a compliant regarding Masqati badam milk ..after having that drinks We felt so drowsy very badly .. couldn't even start properly it's read more
Reply
divya pandit   5 Oct 2021 12:12pm
I have complaind for yellow chilli restaurant.they provide lower quality food .We have suffered from food poisoning for 3 days..Plz do action for this read more
Reply
satish   8 Sep 2021 9:53pm
Want to complain about the quality of food made at fried centres in adoni
Reply
Shubham   4 Jul 2021 7:32pm
I have buy a packet of noodles ( LOTUS INSTANT NOODLES) .. nothing is mention on it regarding Manufacturing date , batch number and weight.. only MRP read more
Reply
Shrinath   27 Jun 2021 5:41pm
In our Area All the Shops selling More then MRP Price,Which is all the Muttons shops of also selling more then as govt fixed sir,please visit our visit
Reply
YOGESH YADAV   24 Jun 2021 9:27am
Can I complain for food product having future packed date ? I order 1 food product through amazon in month of June/2021 and it is delivered in the month read more
Reply
Baburam poudel   20 May 2021 3:05pm
I want to complaint for cloud kitchen .they use 3/4 mnth old chicken to the coustomer come check their fridge always they make stock of 30/40 kg of chicken read more
Reply
Rishav agarwal   21 Apr 2021 6:01pm
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1418516325168230&id=100010296285579
Reply
Karthik   19 Apr 2021 12:42am
Sir food all fraud food not good quality please consider plz call and mail me
Reply
Neeraj Kacholiya   9 Apr 2021 9:00pm
Please accept my complain my house near a dipartamentmental shoap (charbhuja traders ) kaliyas teh asind dist bhilwara rajasthan Without license purchase read more
Reply
Rohit Rohit   27 Mar 2021 12:56pm
Dear sir Kinder joy food chocolate to expansive. I can not afford. But my 3 old year girl ask every day she want that.kinder joy company give adds every read more
Reply
Champalal parjapati   16 Sep 2020 11:44am
Fssai no.30200516005305570.18.5.2020aply. Panding....at payment issu.4000by online cas. Agent.no.+918377806807 Please help.me fast reply
Reply
Sanjay Mishra   5 Sep 2020 3:08pm
I want to apply for registration in fssai for one year.the food inspector demanded me 2000 rs for issue from Dept. Actual cost is only 100rs. Without read more
Reply
Rahul Singh   28 Jul 2020 10:46pm
Hello sir/ma'am i have order forever aloe Vera gel but having some personal health issue so i want to test the aloe gel can you please help or share laboratory read more
Reply

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