FSSAI issues notice to Zepto over expired besan delivery and misleading food labels
India's food safety watchdog has targeted quick-commerce platform Zepto and four food companies over expired stock and misleading ingredient claims.
India's food safety watchdog has cracked down on quick-commerce giant Zepto and four food manufacturers, citing lapses ranging from the delivery of expired staples to misleading ingredient declarations on popular packaged foods.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a formal notice to Zepto Marketplace Private Limited after a consumer complaint on social media platform X revealed that two packets of besan (gram flour) delivered to a customer were past their printed use-by date of 12 September 2026. The regulator directed the quick-commerce operator to verify the incident, trace order and warehouse records, withdraw affected stock, and provide full refunds to impacted buyers alongside an explanation of corrective measures.
The enforcement drive underscores the national government's commitment to consumer health and strict quality standards across rapidly growing digital retail networks. Beyond the delivery complaint against Zepto, the regulator extended its scrutiny across the food supply chain, flagging misleading claims and regulatory non-compliance at four other firms.
Companies under FSSAI scrutiny
| Company | Product involved | Regulatory issue flagged by FSSAI |
|---|---|---|
| Zepto Marketplace | Gram flour (besan) | Delivery of stock past use-by date |
| Bakelite Food Processing | Puneri Cream Roll | Misleading "cream" name without dairy ingredients |
| BMS Lifescience | Cranberry capsules | Expired registration and unapproved health claims |
| Healthyhey Foods | Cranberry extract capsules | Labelling discrepancies and unapproved claims |
| Storia Foods & Beverages | Pomegranate juice | Misleading juice composition and sugar claims |
Among the manufacturers summoned was Bakelite Food Processing Private Limited over its product "Malpani's Bake-Lite Puneri Cream Roll", sold via quick-commerce apps Blinkit and Zepto. The regulator noted that while the product was sold as a "cream roll", its declared ingredients listed refined wheat flour, hydrogenated vegetable fat, margarine, and sugar, with no milk or dairy products included.
In the health supplement sector, FSSAI challenged BMS Lifescience regarding its "Haog's Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Capsules" over an expired registration certificate, unapproved disease-prevention claims, and the improper use of the FSSAI emblem. Healthyhey Foods LLP faced similar scrutiny over unapproved health claims on its cranberry extract products.
Separately, the authority initiated formal adjudication proceedings against Storia Foods & Beverages Private Limited over its pomegranate juice. FSSAI pointed out that while the beverage contained just 4 per cent pomegranate juice concentrate alongside 12 per cent apple juice concentrate, it was marketed as "Equivalent to 100% Fruit Juice (Reconstituted)" alongside prominent "No Added Sugar" claims.
The companies have been instructed to respond to the regulator's notices and demonstrate corrective action.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Expired product use-by date | 12 September 2026 | FSSAI notice |
| Pomegranate juice concentrate in Storia juice | 4 per cent | FSSAI adjudication order |
| Apple juice concentrate in Storia juice | 12 per cent | FSSAI adjudication order |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Zepto Marketplace Private Limited | Quick-commerce startup issued a notice over delivery of expired gram flour. |
| Food Safety and Standards Authority of India | Food regulator that issued notices and initiated proceedings against firms. |
