FSSAI Considers Stricter Food Safety Rules for Ecommerce Platforms and Cloud Kitchens
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Startup Spotlight India
- October 13, 2026
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is considering dedicated regulations for ecommerce platforms, including quick commerce players, and cloud kitchens to strengthen food safety compliance and improve product disclosures.
The proposed rules would require online food listings to display manufacturing and expiry dates and batch numbers. They would also hold platforms accountable for misleading claims made by manufacturers, Bloomberg reported. The regulator is additionally considering mandatory disclosure of cloud kitchen photographs and addresses.
FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani told ET that the regulator has held consultations with ecommerce and quick commerce companies and begun inspecting dark stores and cloud kitchens.
“We’re planning to amend the regulation so that consumers know the manufacturing date, expiry date and batch number of products they’re ordering,” he said.
According to the Bloomberg report, the regulator is also considering stricter checks on storage conditions at dark stores, including the handling of frozen products.
The proposed changes come amid increased scrutiny of quick commerce platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart over their failure to display essential product information, including expiry, best-before and use-by dates.
While platforms often mention a product’s shelf life, consumers may not know its actual expiry date or batch number before placing an order.
The proposed ecommerce rules form part of the FSSAI’s broader crackdown on food safety and labelling violations. Punhani said prosecutions involving ecommerce companies have risen at least five- to sixfold over the past year. He added that platforms were improving compliance, but not at the expected pace.
Wider Food Safety Crackdown
The scrutiny also extends to food manufacturers and their labelling practices. The FSSAI has issued notices to more than 150 food and beverage makers, including Nestle, PepsiCo, Dabur, ITC, Ferrero, Danone, Red Bull and Abbott, over allegedly incorrect or misleading ingredient claims and other labelling violations.
“We are doing nothing wrong; we are just implementing the regulations,” Punhani said, adding that large companies should lead by example and avoid misleading claims and advertisements.
Alongside enforcement of existing labelling requirements, the FSSAI is pursuing front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods. In an affidavit filed with the Supreme Court, the regulator proposed red, hexagonal labels displaying the amounts of nutrients such as sugar, salt and saturated fat.
Separately, PepsiCo, Reliance Consumer Products and Monster Beverage have challenged the FSSAI notices in court. The companies recently secured procedural relief after a court found that they had not been given an adequate opportunity to respond or present their cases to the regulator.
Punhani expressed confidence in the FSSAI’s position, telling Bloomberg, “They are resisting but we are far stronger and we have consumer support.”
The regulator is also scrutinising supplements and nutraceuticals sold online. It is reviewing approvals granted three to five years ago to determine whether companies are making claims beyond those cleared by the authority.
The FSSAI plans to issue notices and suspend licences where it finds violations.
FAQs
1. What regulations is the FSSAI considering for ecommerce platforms?
The FSSAI is considering dedicated regulations requiring online food listings to display manufacturing and expiry dates and batch numbers, along with greater accountability for misleading claims.
2. Which companies and businesses could be affected by the proposed rules?
The proposed regulations could affect ecommerce platforms, quick commerce players and cloud kitchens.
3. Which quick commerce platforms are mentioned in the report?
The report mentions Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart.
4. How many food and beverage companies have received FSSAI notices?
The FSSAI has issued notices to more than 150 food and beverage makers over allegedly incorrect or misleading ingredient claims and other labelling violations.
5. What action is the FSSAI considering against online supplements and nutraceuticals?
The regulator is reviewing approvals granted three to five years ago to check whether companies are making claims beyond those cleared by the authority. It plans to issue notices and suspend licences where violations are found.
