Misleading food packaging may attract Rs 10 lakh penalty

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The government has warned of strict action against “misbranded food” companies, with penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh for misleading packaging practices.

Food companies often use attractive visuals and claims such as “natural,” “healthy,” “fruit-based,” or “sugar-free” to lure consumers. However, the actual products frequently contain only minimal quantities of the highlighted ingredients, creating a gap between claims and reality. Many packaged items prominently display fruits or nutritious ingredients, while their actual composition includes low levels of these elements and higher amounts of sugar, salt, or artificial additives posing potential long-term health risks. A product is termed “misbranded” if the information on its packaging, including ingredients and nutritional claims, does not match its actual contents. Consumers are advised to look beyond front labels and carefully check ingredient lists, nutritional values, and manufacturing details. In cases of misleading claims, complaints can be filed with the Food and Drug Administration or through consumer grievance redressal systems.