Misleading food ads and regulations Questions with answers
- What regulations govern food advertisements and claims in India?
- The Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018.
- Which categories of products were found to have misleading ads and claims by FBOs?
- Health supplements, organic products, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products, and staples.
- Who are some of the alleged violators identified by the FSSAI?
- Manufacturers and/or marketers of nutraceutical products, refined oils, pulses, flours, millet products, and ghee.
- What are the consequences of making deceptive claims or advertisements?
- Such offenses are punishable under Section-53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- What is the cumulative count of offenses reported in the last six months?
- The cumulative count of offenses has reached 170.
- What technicalities are often involved in cases of misleading advertisements?
- Most complaints relate to the nutrition, benefits, and ingredient mix of a product, which require adequate evidence to support the claims.
- When can a food product be referred to as 'natural'?
- A food product can be called 'natural' if it is a single food derived from a recognized natural source with no additives, and has undergone only processing necessary for human consumption.
- What is the difference between 'natural' and 'made from natural ingredients'?
- Composite foods, which are mixtures of plant and processed constituents, cannot be called 'natural,' but they can be labeled as 'made from natural ingredients.'
- When can a product be described as 'fresh'?
- 'Fresh' can be used for products that have not undergone any processing other than basic preparation steps and remain safe for consumption with their basic characteristics unaltered.
- How should products with additives be labeled to indicate they were frozen while fresh?
- Such products can use terms like 'freshly frozen,' 'fresh frozen,' or 'frozen from fresh' to indicate that they were quickly frozen after being fresh.
- What are the expectations of the FSSAI regarding advertisements and claims?
- Advertisements and claims should be truthful, unambiguous, meaningful, and not misleading. They should help consumers understand the information provided and be scientifically substantiated.
- What should endorsements in advertisements reflect?
- Endorsements should reflect the genuine and reasonably current opinion of the individual, group, or organization making the representation. They should be based on adequate information or experience with the identified goods, products, or services.
- What qualities should an ideal advertisement possess according to the FSSAI?
- An ideal advertisement should be suggestive rather than imposing, educational, and, most importantly, true. It should enable consumers to differentiate between regular posts and promotional content.
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