The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices over health claims made for Freedom Rice Bran Oil and cited multiple hygiene and food-handling deficiencies at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mahipalpur, New Delhi. The regulator has also suspended the licence of one food company and cancelled another’s licence for continued non-compliance.
In a social media post on Friday, FSSAI said it had issued notices to Hyderabad-based Gemini Edibles & Fats India Ltd, Innovative Retail Concepts, which operates BigBasket, and Flipkart India over the promotion and sale of Freedom Cooking Rice Bran Oil. The product was marketed on e-commerce platforms and social media with claims including that it “reduces bad cholesterol and maintains/increases good cholesterol” and contains “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 and rice bran oil under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. The regulator also said Gemini Edibles was selling food products through its own e-commerce website without appearing to hold 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 manufacturer but also on the digital retail platforms through which the product was promoted and sold.
Separately, FSSAI issued an improvement notice to AB Hotels Ltd, the operator of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Mahipalpur, for several food safety and hygiene-related non-compliances. The regulator cited poor maintenance of premises and equipment, inadequate cleaning and sanitisation, stagnant water, and drainage and food-waste problems.
The inspection also recorded deficiencies in pest control, including cockroach and fly activity. FSSAI said food procurement and receiving checks were inadequate and that fungal-affected and deteriorated fruits and vegetables had been received. It also cited gaps in approved-vendor records and traceability.
Other findings at the hotel included improper segregation of raw and cooked food, 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 licence. The notice makes corrective reporting and documentary evidence the next formal compliance step for the operator.
In a separate enforcement action, FSSAI suspended the licence of DNV Food Products Ltd over serious non-compliances related to hygiene, sanitation, storage and licensing. It also cancelled the licence of Jhanvittanni, citing continued non-compliance with food safety rules and regulations despite an earlier licence suspension.
