Notices to food brands over consumer complaints

India's food safety authority, FSSAI, has issued notices to several prominent food businesses, including Nestlé India, KFC, and Flipkart, after taking cognizance of social media complaints regarding contaminated products and unhygienic operating conditions.

These notices stem from viral social media posts alleging lapses by various food businesses and brands. A senior FSSAI official confirmed that the notices were issued based on consumer complaints that gained traction online. The apex food regulator initiated action suo motu after at least three separate complaints circulated widely on social media.

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It is true that notices have gone to several food businesses. The notices have been issued based on social media complaints raised by consumers on compliance issues by certain food businesses and brands that recently went viral on social media.

Nestlé India received a notice concerning allegations of insects found in a packet of Maggi noodles. The FSSAI has requested an Action Taken Report detailing vendor information, internal quality-check logs, corrective measures, and steps to prevent recurrence. Nestlé, however, has refuted these claims, stating they are awaiting the sample from the complainant and have submitted a detailed representation with supporting facts and test reports to the authorities.

KFC was issued a notice for an outlet in Andhra Pradesh's Eluru, where allegations of unhygienic conditions were made. The FSSAI is seeking details on hygiene, sanitation, food handling, storage, waste management, pest control, and employee hygiene, along with evidence of corrective actions. Additionally, a notice was served to Open Secret for its "Unjunked Dates" product, which was allegedly delivered with insects through Flipkart Minutes. Both parties have been asked to provide internal quality control records and details of corrective actions.

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We categorically reject the allegations circulating on media basis an unverified account regarding the presence of infestation, allegedly on MAGGI noodles. We are yet to receive the complaint sample from the complainant as the account is unreachable. A detailed representation, supported by all relevant facts, quality records from batch and market samples, test reports, has already been submitted to the competent authorities.