India is preparing to tighten food safety regulations for quick-commerce platforms that deliver groceries and food products within minutes. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is considering stricter rules for companies such as Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart and Amazon Now.
The proposed changes aim to provide consumers with more comprehensive information about food products, establish greater accountability for misleading claims and strengthen compliance with food storage and safety standards. If implemented, the measures could help customers make more informed decisions when ordering groceries and other food items online.
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What Could Change for Online Food Listings?
Under the proposed rules, online platforms may be required to display important details, including manufacturing dates, expiry dates and batch numbers, in their food product listings. This would allow customers to check when a product was manufactured and how much of its shelf life remains before placing an order.
The regulator is also considering measures to establish greater accountability for misleading product claims. Companies could face increased scrutiny if they provide inaccurate or deceptive information about the quality, characteristics or benefits of food products sold through their platforms.
Dark kitchens and dark stores are also expected to receive greater regulatory attention. Dark kitchens are commercial facilities that primarily prepare food for online orders, while dark stores are fulfilment centres used to store products and facilitate rapid deliveries.
Under the proposals, companies may be required to provide photographs and addresses of their dark kitchens. Inspections of dark stores could also become more stringent to ensure that food products are stored and handled in accordance with applicable safety standards.
How Will Food Storage Be Monitored?
Storage conditions are a critical component of food safety, particularly for products that require temperature-controlled environments. The proposed measures could place greater emphasis on ensuring that frozen food is maintained at prescribed temperatures throughout the supply chain.
Failure to maintain appropriate temperatures can compromise product quality and increase food safety risks. Quick-commerce companies may therefore need to strengthen monitoring systems across their warehouses, storage facilities and distribution networks to ensure compliance with the relevant standards.
How Much Has FSSAI Enforcement Increased?
FSSAI Chief Executive Officer Rajit Punhani has said the regulator is working to make online platforms more accountable for compliance with food safety requirements. Several companies operating in the quick-commerce and e-commerce sectors have faced regulatory action in recent months over alleged violations.
These include Blinkit, operated by Eternal, Swiggy Instamart, Walmart-owned Flipkart and Amazon’s Indian operations. The violations cited include incorrect labelling, the sale of prohibited products and irregularities relating to valid licences.
According to Punhani, prosecution cases against e-commerce companies have increased by at least five to six times over the past year. Approximately seven lakh inspections were conducted between April and September, nearly twice the number recorded during the corresponding period last year.
The figures indicate a significant increase in regulatory scrutiny as authorities seek to improve compliance with food safety requirements across the rapidly expanding online retail sector.
Which Other Companies Face Scrutiny?
FSSAI’s enforcement efforts extend beyond quick-commerce platforms. Food manufacturers, hotels and restaurants are also being scrutinised for their advertisements, product claims, labelling practices and storage arrangements.
Regulatory monitoring has also intensified for companies selling supplements and nutraceuticals. Particular attention is being given to claims related to weight loss, with authorities examining whether such claims are adequately supported and comply with applicable regulations.
Companies including Nestlé India, PepsiCo, Dabur India and JW Marriott have faced action over various alleged violations. A supplement associated with the joint venture between Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Nestlé India has also faced regulatory action over allegedly misleading claims.
When Will the New Rules Take Effect?
The proposed changes could require online food retailers to exercise greater care when presenting product information, making promotional claims and maintaining storage facilities.
However, the proposals are still under consideration, and an official announcement confirming the final rules and their implementation timeline remains awaited. If adopted, the measures could strengthen consumer access to product information, improve accountability across online food retail platforms and reinforce compliance with food safety standards in India’s rapidly growing quick-commerce industry.
The420 Insight: Greater Transparency for Online Food Buyers
The proposed rules could make it easier for customers to check manufacturing dates, expiry dates and batch numbers before ordering food products online. Greater scrutiny of storage conditions and misleading claims could also strengthen accountability among quick-commerce platforms. However, the requirements are not yet final, and their actual impact will depend on the rules FSSAI ultimately adopts.
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