The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Khurda has imposed a fine of Rs 14.4 lakh on Parle Biscuits Private Limited for making misleading claims on packets of “sugar-free” biscuits. The fine was imposed after a Food Safety Officer (FSO) from East Coast Railway, Khurda Road Division, filed a complaint against the company. The FSO alleged that the company was making false claims about its products, violating the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) of 2006.
The ADM directed the company to deposit the fine amount within a month and also to ensure compliance by making necessary changes to its product labeling. The company had made a false claim on its packet of biscuits that it was “sugar-free” when, in reality, it was not. The packet had unclear information, and the product label indicated it was sugar-free, with four sealed packets weighing 327.6 grams each.
A report from the Bhubaneswar Food Laboratory confirmed that the product was mislabeled and violated Section 3.1(j) of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. The FSO filed a complaint against the vendor, and the ADM’s court delivered a verdict based on the evidence. The fines imposed on other parties, including Bhagabati Food Private Limited, franchise operators, a distributor in Jatni, and a salesman operating stalls at Khurda Road railway station, range from Rs 20,000 to Rs 3 lakh. Failure to comply with the directives and deposit the fines within the stipulated period may result in further legal action.