The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to Dr Reddy’s, Nestle Health Science, Tirupati Wellness, Flipkart India, Amazon Seller Services and Netmeds Healthcare over allegedly non-compliant advertising and product claims for Celevida GLP+ on e-commerce platforms.
The regulator said the companies must show cause why action should not be initiated against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations made under it. The notices add regulatory pressure to the way health-linked food products are marketed through online platforms, where product names, descriptions and promotional claims can shape consumer decisions before purchase.
According to FSSAI, Celevida GLP+ was advertised as “High Protein Support for Lean Muscle Preservation during GLP-1/GIP Therapies”. The regulator said the product’s branding and references to GLP-1 and GIP therapies created a misleading association with those therapies and implied suitability for a specific physiological condition.
FSSAI also said a disclaimer stating that GLP was only part of the brand name and did not represent the product’s true nature was not enough to remove the misleading impression created by the overall presentation. Claims that the product could help maintain muscle, support muscle strength and preserve lean mass were also flagged as potentially portraying it as a complete nutrition product or meal replacement.
The regulator separately questioned the claim “Contains 100% RDA BCAA” and the representation of purity linked to the product’s European origin. It also directed food business operators to stop using the term “100%” on food labels, packaging and promotional content.
The action extends beyond advertising compliance. FSSAI suspended the licence of Shreyash Retail Pvt Ltd after inspections of warehouses in Delhi and Noida found expired and near-expiry food products, along with deficiencies in hygienic and sanitary conditions. The retailer was found to have been repeatedly involved in selling expired or rotten food products through Flipkart, according to the regulator.
FSSAI said the case involved more than 130 consumer complaints or grievances, including 70 complaints specifically related to expired or rotten food. In some instances, consumers reportedly experienced vomiting after consuming the products. The findings highlight the enforcement challenge created by online food marketplaces, where platform listings, seller warehouses and delivery networks form part of the same consumer-facing supply chain.
In a separate case, FSSAI sanctioned prosecution against Nex International after a sample of loose raisins was found unsafe because pesticide residues exceeded prescribed maximum limits. The Food Analyst’s initial report was challenged by the food business operator, but a Referral Laboratory’s secondary analysis confirmed the presence of benomyl and carbendazim, expressed as carbendazim, as well as lambda-cyhalothrin above the maximum permitted limits.
The notices, licence suspension and prosecution sanction are separate regulatory actions. FSSAI’s announcement did not state the final penalties, if any, against the companies that received show-cause notices. The affected businesses will have to respond to the regulator under the applicable food safety law and regulations.
