Swiggy Instamart FSSAI Notice: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart for alleged violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Swiggy Instamart receives FSSAI notice

Swiggy Instamart FSSAI Notice: Online food delivery company Swiggy is once again in the news. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart for alleged violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. These notices were issued based on a series of complaints from customers alleging delivery of expired, rotten, contaminated, and unfit food products.

FSSAI has requested a detailed explanation from the company, along with documentation, on all allegations and a compliance report. It has also clarified that failure to respond within the stipulated timeframe could result in legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

On the basis of which complaints were the 9 notices issued?

• Customers complained that expired, rotten, contaminated, and unsafe food products for human consumption were delivered through Swiggy Instamart.
• According to the FSSAI, Noisy Eggs was being sold under a brand name that was not part of the approved product category listed in the company's existing FSSAI license. The authority directed that the product not be sold until a valid license is obtained and that the license be amended, if necessary.
• The complaints said that products like Healthify 100% Whey Protein 1 kg and Noice Home Style Madras Mixture with Peanuts were delivered to customers even after the expiry date.
• Akshayakalpa Organic Eggs received complaints that the eggs were expired, rotten, smelly, and contaminated, making them unfit for consumption. Despite the complaint, no corrective action was reportedly taken.
• Another complaint alleged that Kake Da Paratha was delivered in a bad and smelly condition. It also alleged that appropriate action was not taken despite the complaint.
• A complaint was filed regarding a defective, contaminated, and unsafe infant food formulation. It is alleged that even after the customer returned the defective product, a similar defective product was reshipped.
• FSSAI has also received complaints alleging supply of contaminated eggs, spoiled milk, and torn or damaged packaged food items to customers.
• The notice also stated that in some cases, incorrect, invalid, or false FSSAI license numbers were used. Furthermore, some food business entities were listed under names that did not match their FSSAI registration.
• Several complaints alleged that even after the complaint was filed and escalated, there was no satisfactory response, redressal, or positive action. In one case, the matter was closed with a refund, while the food safety issue remained unaddressed. FSSAI also questioned the adequacy of vendor onboarding, compliance verification, traceability, food quality monitoring, consumer grievance redressal, and food safety systems.

What did FSSAI demand from Swiggy Instamart?

The food regulator directed the company to submit a detailed, documented response to all allegations. It also asked for complete information regarding quality control, food safety monitoring, inventory management, stock rotation, storage, handling, and additional controls. FSSAI also asked the company to submit a root cause analysis of each incident, details of collective and preventive actions taken, resolution of consumer complaints, and steps taken to prevent such incidents in the future. Failure to submit a compliance report within the stipulated timeframe could result in further action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.