Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 31: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Thursday said it has initiated stringent enforcement action against several food business operators (FBOs) for misleading claims, non-compliant labelling, food safety violations and hygiene lapses.

In a post on social media platform X, the food regulator said the action includes prohibition orders, licence suspension and restrictions on the sale of products found to be in violation of food safety regulations.

Among the major actions, FSSAI issued a prohibition order against Vatave Health Care over the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of its product, FOLINEURO Syrup – Folinic Acid Syrup.

The regulator said the product name "FOLINEURO", along with a brain image on the front of the package, created a misleading impression that it was intended to improve or support brain and neurological functions.

FSSAI also found that the product had been classified as a "Nutritional Food Supplement", a category that does not exist under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals) Regulations, 2016.

Based on the complaint, product label, licence details and available records, the regulator said the product prima facie failed to comply with provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Accordingly, FSSAI prohibited the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of the product with immediate effect, warning that any violation would invite strict legal and penal action.

In a separate case, the regulator prohibited the sale of Neuherbs TRUE VITAMIN, marketed by Global Healthfit Retail India Private Limited, over the use of the trade name "TRUE VITAMIN", which it said was misleading and not recognised under existing regulations.

FSSAI said the branding violated provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, and the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, as it had the potential to mislead consumers.

The regulator directed the company to immediately stop the sale of the product, remove the misleading claims from product labels and advertisements, and submit an Action Taken Report within 30 days. It warned that failure to comply would invite further regulatory action.