NEW DELHI
:
India’s prime meals regulator has requested companies towards utilizing the time period “100%” in labelling, citing considerations over its potential to mislead customers.
The Meals Security and Requirements Authority of India (Fssai) has requested meals enterprise operators to chorus from utilizing the time period on labels, packaging, and promotional content material, owing to its ambiguity and potential for misinterpretation inside the present regulatory provisions, in keeping with an advisory.
The regulator highlighted a surge in the usage of the time period “100%” throughout meals product labels and promotional platforms. The authority mentioned that such terminology just isn’t solely undefined underneath present laws however can be deceptive and is prone to create a misunderstanding amongst customers.
As per the Meals Security and Requirements (Promoting and Claims) Rules, 2018, the time period “100%” just isn’t outlined or referenced in any method underneath the FSS Act, 2006 or underneath its guidelines.
FSSAI steps in to guard customers
The sub-regulation 10(7) of the Act strictly prohibits any commercial or declare that undermines different producers or influences client notion in a deceptive method. Underneath sub-regulation 4(1), it shall be ensured that the claims should be truthful, unambiguous, significant, not deceptive and assist customers to understand the knowledge supplied.
“The usage of the time period “100%”—whether or not in isolation or mixed with different descriptors—is prone to create a misunderstanding of absolute purity or superiority,” an Fssai spokesperson mentioned in an announcement. “This might mislead customers into believing that different comparable merchandise available in the market are inferior or non-compliant with regulatory requirements.”
The advisory goals to make sure transparency and equity in meals labelling to guard client pursuits and promote knowledgeable selections.
A number of huge meals manufacturers show 100% claims with phrases equivalent to “sugar-free”, “millet”, “natural”, “wheat”, amongst others, for his or her merchandise together with sweets, noodles, pasta and biscuits.
