Health claims or sweet lies? FSSAI grills three food brands including Lotte India & Ferns N Petals over misleading food labels

India's food safety watchdog has put three well-known brands on notice for allegedly stretching the truth on their packaging. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sent show-cause notices to Lotte India Corporation Pvt Ltd, Ferns N Petals Pvt Ltd and Kubera Foods, accusing them of printing front-of-pack claims that don't match what's actually inside the wrapper. The regulator has given all three companies seven days to explain why they should not face action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, a TOI report stated.

The notices span cream buns, chocolates, biscuits and even lollipops, and they point to a wider problem: the words splashed across the front of a food pack don't always tell the full story. Closing that gap between packaging and product is exactly what FSSAI is now trying to do.

The "100% Natural" Bun That Wasn't

Kubera Foods is under the scanner for its "Soft and Fresh Cream Bun Pineapple," sold with bold claims of being "100% Natural" and free of "Preservatives, Colours & Flavours." FSSAI says the label itself tells a different story, it lists preservatives, synthetic colour and added flavouring substances, right alongside the "natural" claim. The regulator has also questioned the company's use of feel-good words like "Pure," "Fresh" and "Natural."

Premium Chocolate, Not-So-Premium Ingredients

Ferns N Petals has landed in trouble over its "Roasted Almond Chocolate," marketed as "Premium Chocolate." FSSAI alleges the bar uses hydrogenated vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter, skips mandatory label declarations, and doesn't even state how much almond it actually contains.

Lotte's Long List Of Label Slip-Ups

Lotte India faces the longest list of objections. FSSAI has flagged "100% Vegetarian" claims on some Choco Pie variants, missing nutrition details on Pepero biscuit sticks, and Fruitz Eclairs that promise fruit flavour but contain no actual fruit. Some products were also found carrying old, pre-printed labels, while certain lollipops allegedly break the rules on permitted vitamin levels.

AIIMS Delhi dietitian Monita Gehlot says the label on a food pack is often the only information a shopper has before making a choice. "The information presented on the front of the pack should align with the detailed information provided on the back. Consumers should read the ingredient list, nutrition information, allergen declarations and other mandatory disclosures before making food choices," she said.