Key Points
- FSSAI says e-commerce sites must ensure food product claims match what’s on the physical labels.
- Companies need to train delivery staff on food safety and hygiene.
- Online platforms must follow FSSAI’s labelling rules.
- Food products must have at least 30% of their shelf life left when delivered.
- Platforms must show valid FSSAI licenses and hygiene ratings for sellers.
Looma News
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued new guidelines for e-commerce platforms, including quick commerce companies, about selling food products online. The advisory, released on Tuesday, says these platforms must ensure that the claims made about food products on their websites match the information on the actual product labels. The FSSAI warned that unverified claims online could mislead shoppers.
The advisory also highlighted the need to follow labelling rules and other standards outlined in the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020. The FSSAI urged e-commerce platforms to put systems in place to ensure compliance with these rules and maintain the safety, quality, and authenticity of the food they sell.
This advisory follows discussions from a meeting last month between FSSAI and e-commerce operators about food safety. One key point was the need for food business operators (FBOs) to train their delivery staff properly. This training should cover safe food handling, hygiene practices, and how to separate food from non-food items to prevent cross-contamination during delivery.
The FSSAI also emphasized the importance of food product shelf life. It now requires that delivered products must have at least 30% of their shelf life left, or at least 45 days before expiry. This rule is meant to maintain customer trust and ensure the products are still good quality. Additionally, e-commerce platforms must display valid FSSAI licenses or registration numbers and hygiene ratings for all sellers, to ensure transparency and trust with customers.
In short, FSSAI’s new guidelines aim to improve food safety and consumer satisfaction as the online food market continues to grow by enforcing rules around product authenticity, safety, and delivery practices.
