Online Companies Must Sell Valid Food Products for a Minimum of 45 Days

Online Companies Must Sell Valid Food Products for a Minimum of 45 Days
Amid complaints about food quality, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a new directive for e-commerce companies. According to this directive, companies must make available only those food products that have a minimum shelf life of 30% or at least 45 days remaining.
FSSAI CEO Gunjal Kamra held a meeting with e-commerce companies like Blinkit, Swiggy, Instacart, and Zomato on Tuesday, discussing compliance with food safety and quality standards.
The number of complaints about ordering food on e-commerce platforms has been increasing. Customers are receiving items with very little shelf life remaining. For example, if a product has only three days remaining for safe use, it raises quality concerns. As per the new rule, any food item delivered must have a minimum of 45 days’ shelf life if its total shelf life is six months to one year.
FSSAI clarified that any claims about products sold on e-commerce platforms must match the information provided on the product label. Sellers have been warned against making unverified claims online. The new directive aims to ensure that products are delivered with adequate quality standards, observing food safety and hygiene protocols.
In cases where a product like bread has only ten days of shelf life, companies should deliver it with at least three days left before expiry. This policy intends to ensure that food products reach consumers with a reasonable consumption period remaining.