The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices over health claims made for Freedom Cooking Rice Bran Oil and served an improvement notice on the operator of Radisson Blu Hotel at Mahipalpur in New Delhi for multiple food safety and hygiene deficiencies.
The regulator said in a social media post on Friday that notices were issued to Hyderabad-based Gemini Edibles & Fats India Ltd, Innovative Retail Concepts, which operates BigBasket, and Flipkart India over the promotion of Freedom Rice Bran Oil on e-commerce platforms and social media. The product was advertised with claims including “Reduces bad cholesterol and maintains/increases good cholesterol” and “10,000+ PPM Natural Oryzanol”.
According to FSSAI, the cholesterol and heart-health claims were not covered or permitted under the applicable provisions for edible vegetable oil, including rice bran oil, under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. The regulator also said Gemini Edibles appeared to be selling food products through its own e-commerce website without holding a valid central licence covering e-commerce activity.
FSSAI has directed the food business operators to show cause why action should not be initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The notices place responsibility not only on the product manufacturer but also on the digital platforms through which the claims were promoted, highlighting the compliance obligations attached to online food commerce.
Separately, FSSAI issued an improvement notice to AB Hotels Ltd, which operates the Radisson Blu Hotel at Mahipalpur. The regulator cited poor maintenance of premises and equipment, inadequate cleaning and sanitisation, stagnant water, drainage and food-waste problems, and deficiencies in pest control. Cockroach and fly activity were recorded during the inspection, according to the regulator.
The inspection also identified problems in food procurement and receiving checks, including the receipt of fungal-affected and deteriorated fruits and vegetables. FSSAI said the hotel had gaps in approved-vendor records and traceability, as well as improper segregation of raw and cooked foods, vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, allergenic and non-allergenic foods, and food and non-food items.
AB Hotels has been directed to take immediate corrective measures and submit a detailed action-taken report with supporting documents and photographic evidence. FSSAI said failure to comply could lead to further action, including suspension of the hotel’s food safety licence.
In two other enforcement actions, FSSAI suspended the licence of DNV Food Products Ltd for serious non-compliances related to hygiene, sanitation, storage and licensing. It also cancelled the licence of Jhanvittanni for continued non-compliance with food safety rules and regulations despite an earlier licence suspension. The regulator did not specify in the supplied statement the locations of the two companies.
