Food regulator pulls up Instamart over spoilt, contaminated food, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued nine notices to quick commerce platform Swiggy Instamart following consumer complaints.
• Complaints primarily concerned the delivery of expired, spoilt, rotten, or contaminated food products.
• Swiggy Instamart was found to have listed products under brand names not covered by the FSSAI license of the food operator.
• The company allegedly failed to provide satisfactory grievance redressal or corrective action on escalated complaints.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, responsible for regulating food safety and standards across India.
• FSSAI mandates that e-commerce food businesses must obtain a central license and are only permitted to list FSSAI-registered or licensed food businesses on their platforms.
• E-commerce platforms are required to ensure that food products delivered to consumers have a minimum shelf life of 45 days or at least 30% of their remaining shelf life.
• Violations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, such as selling substandard or misbranded food, can incur penalties up to ₹5 lakh.
• Quick Commerce platforms, including Swiggy Instamart, operate on an ultra-fast delivery model, aiming to deliver essentials within 10-30 minutes, often utilizing localized dark stores.
• E-commerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) are also required to verify and prominently display the FSSAI registration or license number of each listed entity.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): A statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that regulates food safety and standards in India.
• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: The primary legislation consolidating food-related laws in India, establishing FSSAI and setting standards for food articles.
• Quick Commerce: An ultra-fast delivery model for essential goods, typically within 10-30 minutes, leveraging small, hyper-local dark stores.
• Food Business Operator (FBO): Any person or entity involved in the food business, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and e-commerce platforms.