The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday said that it has initiated penal action against five prominent e-commerce platforms - Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Flipkart India and Zepto. The crackdown has been launched for various non-compliances, including misleading claims and sale of prohibited products.

In a social media post, the Indian food regulatory body stated that it has launched a "major crackdown on e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Flipkart India and Zepto over regulatory non-compliances".

The non-compliances, according to it, include misbranding or misleading claims, as well as sale and display of prohibited and poisonous food products.

FSSAI's penal action against five leading e-commerce platforms for misleading claims was related to the food product "Happilo Premium Date Bites - Zesty Orange".

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Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket face further action due to misleading claims and non-compliant product information related to some dairy products of Milky Mist.

As per the regulatory body, these products are "Milky Mist Fresh Low Fat Cream, Milky Mist Farm Fresh Curd, and Milky Mist Greek Yoghurt".

Moreover, Amazon Seller Services, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket also face action for selling Dhatura, a poisonous fruit/seed often used in sacred offerings to Lord Shiva. It constitutes non-compliance with the applicable provisions of the FSS Act, 2006, relating to the sale, display, and offer for sale through e-commerce platforms.

News agency PTI reported that e-mail queries sent to these platforms elicited no immediate response. Notably, the FSSAI has stepped up enforcement actions against food business operators (FBOs) and e-commerce companies in the last six months.

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The food regulatory body is also informing about these actions to consumers at large scale through social media platforms.

Days ago, the FSSAI initiated legal action against Nestle India Ltd after a baby food sample was found to be violating quality standards. Two other infant nutrition products were also being promoted in contravention of the rules for such products.

(With PTI Inputs)