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Fake paneer alert: Food regulator launches app allowing consumers to register complaints

Complainants do not have to register themselves on the app — they can complain anonymously

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FSSAI, misleading food claims, food claims, Indian express news, current affairs

All complaints are sent to the appropriate licensing authority — the state licensing authority if the manufacturer holds a state license or the Central Licensing Officer of the state where the product is manufactured if the company holds a central license, which most bigger brands do.

If you think a food major is making misleading claims on their food packaging, you can complain directly to the country’s apex food safety regulator. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has created a link on its website and a section on its app for such complaints.

How can one register a complaint?

Visit the FSSAI website or download the ‘Food Safety Connect’ app. Put up photographs of the front-of-pack and the back label that shows the composition and the nutritional information of the food. The complainant will also have to mention the name of the brand, the name of the product, the licence or registration number (usually displayed on the packs along with an FSSAI logo) and the misleading claim made. The complainants are also asked whether the product is available online.

“The process has also been simplified. The complainants do not have to register themselves on the app — they can complain anonymously, without providing their own details. This is usually not the case for other complaints to the food safety authority,” said an FSSAI official.

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What has been the response?

The apex regulator has already received several complaints. While the new system was launched on Wednesday, the link was created a couple of weeks ago. “We had not publicised the link, but we still received a great response from people who have registered 100 complaints. These are now being examined by appropriate teams,” the official said.

What happens once you complain?

All complaints are sent to the appropriate licensing authority — the state licensing authority if the manufacturer holds a state licence or the Central Licensing Officer of the state where the product is manufactured if the company holds a central licence, which most bigger brands do.

“They will give the company an improvement notice. The company either has to comply and change their packaging or they have to provide scientific evidence for making any claim. For example, if a company says that their baby formula strengthens bones, they will have to provide research in support of the claim,” the official said. These documents are then forwarded to the scientific committee for examination. If they are not satisfied, the companies are given some time to change packaging. If they don’t comply, legal proceedings can be initiated and their licence may be cancelled or suspended.

Why are these steps being taken?

The food regulator wants transparency, ensuring people know what they are consuming, especially after recent complaints of “fake paneer.” The food regulator asked consumers whether products that replace milk components should be labelled analogue or non-dairy with all its constituents mentioned on the pack. Earlier, the regulator had also asked manufacturers of fruit juices to remove claims such as 100% fruit juice. It had asked online commerce stores to also ensure that products such as dairy-based beverage mix, cereal-based beverage mix, or malt-based beverage mix are not categorised as health drinks.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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