In the fast-moving world, most of us have stopped visiting markets and have increased our dependency on online shopping for almost everything. However, several consumers ordering food items online have started complaining about receiving food items that are close to their expiry dates.
Amid this, the food regulator – Food Safety & Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI, has directed e-commerce and quick-commerce players selling food items on their online platforms, to ensure a minimum shelf life of 30 per cent or 45 days before product expiry, at the time of delivery to customers.
A meeting was convened by FSSAI, led by its chief executive officer (CEO) G Kamala Vardhana Rao, which was attended by e-commerce Food Business operators (FBOs) including major players such as Blinkit and Zepto.
During the meeting, the FSSAI made it mandatory for the e-commerce FBOs to “adopt practices to ensure minimum shelf life of 30 per cent or 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery to the consumer.”
For example, you order a packet of curd online, which usually has 10 days of shelf life. The packet of curd which is delivered by the FBO you ordered from should have a minimum of three days of shelf life left.
In case you order oats, dry fruits and any such edible that has a longer shelf life, the FSSAI has mandated that when the product reaches the customer, a minimum of 45 days shelf life.
A report by The Times of India quoted an official as saying that in the recent past, a lot of complaints were made regarding the food items having negligible shelf life at the time of delivery.
“That’s why we have reiterated to the e-commerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) to adopt practices to ensure minimum shelf life of 30 percent or 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery to the consumer,” the official said.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notices to quick-commerce and e-commerce players last month for failing to display MRPs and “best before” dates for perishables.
In the meeting on Tuesday, Rao also emphasised that any product claims made on e-commerce platforms must align with the information provided on the product labels and in adherence to FSSAI’s Labelling and Display Regulations.
“A transparent, compliant, and accountable e-commerce food sector is vital for protecting consumer health and fostering confidence in digital food marketplaces,” the FSSAI said in a release issued after the meeting.
Rao also cautioned the FBOs against making unsupported claims online and said, “This would prevent misleading information and protect consumers’ right to accurate product details.”
Rao has also specified the need to deliver food items and non-food items separately to the consumers to avoid potential contamination.
He also reiterated the mandate that no FBO can operate on any e-commerce platform without a valid FSSAI license or registration, emphasising the critical need for regulatory compliance.
To ensure safe food handling at every level, Rao has instructed FBOs to implement proper training programs for delivery personnel, empowering them with essential food safety and hygiene protocols.
With inputs from agencies.
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Food close to expiry delivered online? FSSAI mandates new shelf life rule
