The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has intensified enforcement action against food businesses, penalising edible oil major AWL Agri Business Ltd for manufacturing and marketing substandard fortified sunflower cooking oil and ordering PIE Foods to immediately stop the sale of its monk fruit sweetener products over multiple regulatory violations.
In the case of Ahmedabad-based AWL Agri Business, which markets edible oils under the Fortune brand, the regulator found that a sample of Fortune “Fryola” refined sunflower seed oil failed to meet prescribed fortification standards.
According to FSSAI, a one-litre sample of the product was collected from Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa in Goa. The primary food laboratory found that the levels of Vitamin A and Vitamin D were below the limits prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018.
The regulator consequently classified the product as substandard under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Following an appeal by the company, the sample was tested by a referral laboratory. The second analysis confirmed that the Vitamin D content was significantly below the prescribed range.
The Central Licensing Authority subsequently sanctioned prosecution, following which an adjudication application was filed. The Adjudicating Officer, Goa, passed an order imposing a penalty on AWL Agri Business for manufacturing and marketing the substandard fortified edible oil. FSSAI, however, did not disclose the amount of the penalty.
In a separate enforcement action, FSSAI issued a prohibition order against PIE Foods, directing the company to immediately discontinue the sale of its Monk Fruit Extract Sweetener and Monk Fruit Sweetener Drops.
The action followed an inspection that found the products were being marketed without a valid relabeller endorsement in the company’s FSSAI licence. The regulator also found that PIE Foods was operating an e-commerce website without the required e-commerce business endorsement.
FSSAI further flagged deficiencies in product labelling and marketing claims. The labels carried claims including “100 per cent Monk Fruit Extract” and “Natural Ingredients”, while the company’s e-commerce platform displayed a “Doctor Recommended” claim.
According to the regulator, these claims and declarations appeared to violate provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, and the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.
FSSAI directed PIE Foods to obtain a valid Central Licence with the necessary endorsements before resuming sales. It also said the company must secure the required regulatory approval for the use of monk fruit extract, which is treated as a non-specified food ingredient under applicable food safety regulations.
The latest actions come amid a broader enforcement drive by FSSAI against food business operators and e-commerce platforms for violations related to food safety, licensing, labelling and advertising.
The regulator has also recently taken action against businesses in other segments, including energy drinks and alcoholic beverages. Earlier, it suspended the food business licence of Switz Foods Private Limited after an inspection of its manufacturing facility uncovered serious food safety and hygiene violations.