Food Safety Body Warns E-Commerce Platforms: Strictly Follow Rules or Face Action

In a growing digital food market, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a strong warning to leading e-commerce platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, BigBasket, and Amazon Fresh, urging them to strictly comply with food safety regulations. The regulatory body stressed that any violation of hygiene and safety protocols would be met with serious consequences.

At a meeting held on Tuesday at the FSSAI headquarters in New Delhi, over 70 representatives from top e-commerce platforms were present. The FSSAI CEO underlined the urgent need to maintain strict food safety and hygiene practices across all operations, particularly in the fast-growing online grocery and food delivery sectors.

Key Directives to E-Commerce Platforms

E-commerce companies have been directed to prominently display their FSSAI License or Registration numbers on all receipts, invoices, and cash memos issued to customers. In addition, they must include details about the Food Safety Connect App on all consumer-facing documents to improve awareness and accountability.

The possibility of displaying the expiry or use-by dates of food items at the customer interface was also discussed to help consumers make safer food choices.

Warehouse and Hygiene Guidelines

Platforms are now required to disclose detailed information about all their warehouses and storage units on the FOSCOS portal. These facilities must strictly follow hygiene and food safety standards, and photographs of the storage areas are to be uploaded regularly for monitoring purposes.

Mandatory Training for Food Handlers

The FSSAI also instructed that all food handlers, including delivery staff and other operational personnel, must complete FOSTaC (Food Safety Training & Certification) to ensure hygiene compliance. E-commerce platforms are expected to submit their training plans and implementation timelines to the FSSAI.

Emphasis on Transparency and SOP Compliance

To ensure full transparency, platforms must adhere to Standard Operating Procedures as outlined in the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS Act). All associated warehouses must be registered or licensed by the FSSAI. In addition, companies are directed to share data on food handlers, storage facilities, and other operational details with the Authority.

The FSSAI reiterated that food safety is a shared responsibility involving every participant in the supply chain—from manufacturers and warehouses to delivery services. A coordinated and compliant approach is essential to guarantee consumer safety across the country’s expanding e-commerce food landscape.