NEW DELHI: A nutrition product promoted for people undergoing GLP-1/GIP therapy, loose raisins carrying unsafe pesticide residues and expired or rotten food sold through Flipkart have all landed on the radar of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which has initiated separate enforcement action in the three cases.FSSAI has issued a notice to Dr Reddy’s and Nestle Health Science Ltd, Tirupati Wellness Pvt Ltd, Flipkart India Pvt Ltd, Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd and Netmeds Healthcare Ltd over non-compliant advertising and claims for Celevida GLP+ on e-commerce platforms.Among the claims flagged by the regulator was that the product provided “high protein support for lean muscle preservation during GLP-1/GIP therapies”. FSSAI also flagged claims such as “helps maintain lean muscle”, “supports muscle strength” and “preserve lean mass” and questioned the use of the brand name “Celevida GLP+” along with therapy-related claims, saying this could create a misleading association between the product and such therapies.The regulator further objected to descriptions including “complete daily nourishment” and “dependable nutrition in every serving”, saying these could portray the product as a complete nutrition product or meal replacement. A representation that it was “imported from Europe for purity” was also found misleading, as European origin by itself does not establish enhanced or superior protein quality.FSSAI also flagged the claim “Contains 100% RDA BCAA” as misleading and directed food businesses to discontinue use of “100%” on food labels, packaging and promotional material. It also said the disclaimer that “Celevida GLP+” was merely a brand name did not offset the misleading impression created by the overall presentation, while claims on muscle strength, immunity support and energy metabolism were also found potentially misleading.
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In the raisins case, FSSAI has sanctioned prosecution against Nex International after a regulatory sample of loose raisins was found unsafe. The company appealed against the Food Analyst’s report, following which the counterpart sample was sent to a referral laboratory. The referral laboratory confirmed the sample was unsafe, with pesticide residues including carbendazim and lambda-cyhalothrin.FSSAI has meanwhile suspended with immediate effect the licence of Shreyash Retail Pvt Ltd, a Flipkart seller, after receiving over 130 complaints, including more than 70 about expired or rotten food. Inspections of Flipkart facilities in Delhi and Noida also found expired and near-expiry products and hygiene deficiencies. In some cases, consumers reported vomiting after consuming expired food.
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