New Delhi: Food regulator FSSAI has issued notices to Hyderabad-based Gemini Edibles & Fats India Ltd, BigBasket and Flipkart for selling rice bran oil with misleading claims related to health benefits.
In a social media post on Friday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed that notices have been issued to Gemini Edibles & Fats India, Innovative Retail Concepts (BigBasket) and Flipkart India regarding misleading claims for the product ‘Freedom Cooking Rice Bran Oil’.
The product was promoted through e-commerce platforms and social media with claims such as ‘Reduces bad cholesterol and maintains/increases good cholesterol’ and 10,000+ PPM Natural Oryzanol, the regulator said.
FSSAI has cancelled the licence of Jhanvitanni with immediate effect, citing continued non-compliance with food safety requirements and the operation of the business despite an earlier licence suspension.
The regulator found serious hygiene and sanitation deficiencies at the premises and said corrective measures submitted by the operator were unsatisfactory. The company was also found to have continued operations despite the suspension, according to the findings.
Separately, FSSAI suspended the licence of DNV Food Products Limited after an inspection reportedly revealed unhygienic manufacturing, packing and storage conditions.
The violations included inadequate cleaning, stagnant water, cobwebs, flies and poor sanitation facilities. Inspectors also flagged rusted processing equipment, damaged flooring, inadequate ventilation and improper storage of raw materials, packaging materials and finished products.
The regulator further raised concerns over missing documentation, including food-grade packaging certificates, migration reports and mock recall records, as well as the processing and repacking of products without the required licence endorsement.
FSSAI has issued an improvement notice to AB Hotels Limited, which operates Radisson Blu Hotel in New Delhi, over multiple food safety and hygiene deficiencies.
The inspection reportedly identified rusted machinery, freezer leakage, inadequate refrigeration and temperature monitoring, poor ventilation, damaged flooring, and drainage problems. Inspectors also flagged pest-control concerns, including the presence of cockroaches and flies.
Other findings included issues with food procurement and traceability, improper segregation of raw and cooked food, and inadequate separation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items.
The inspection also raised concerns about used cooking oil. Oil samples reportedly recorded total polar compound (TPC) values of 31 and 24.4, while the required checks on the suitability of the oil for continued use had not been carried out.
The hotel has been directed to take corrective measures and submit an action-taken report supported by documentary and photographic evidence. Further regulatory action may follow if the directions are not complied with.
BigBasket and Flipkart face notices over rice bran oil claims
FSSAI has issued notices to Gemini Edibles & Fats India Limited, Innovative Retail Concepts Private Limited, which operates BigBasket, and Flipkart India Private Limited over promotional claims associated with Freedom Cooking Rice Bran Oil.
The product was promoted through e-commerce platforms and social media with claims that it could reduce bad cholesterol, maintain or increase good cholesterol, and contained more than 10,000 parts per million of natural oryzanol.
The regulator flagged the cholesterol and heart-health claims, stating that they were not covered or permitted under the applicable provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.
FSSAI also questioned Gemini Edibles & Fats India Limited over the alleged sale or offering of food products through its own e-commerce website without a valid Central Licence covering e-commerce activity.
The companies have been asked to show cause why action should not be initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the applicable rules and regulations.
What the action means for food businesses
The latest enforcement measures underline FSSAI’s scrutiny of food safety compliance across manufacturing facilities, hospitality businesses and online retail platforms.
The cancellation and suspension of licences represent distinct regulatory actions from the notices issued to the companies over rice bran oil claims and the improvement notice served on Radisson Blu Delhi. The notices themselves should not be treated as final findings of liability.
For food businesses, the action highlights the importance of maintaining hygienic production and storage conditions, meeting licensing requirements, keeping appropriate compliance records and ensuring that product advertisements do not make unauthorised health claims.
