Delhi HC Stays FSSAI Order on Britannia ‘No Maida’ Biscuit Claims
The Delhi High Court has stayed an order of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that directed Britannia Industries to remove “No Added Sugar”, “No Maida” and “No Palm Oil” claims from the packaging of its NutriChoice millet cookies. Justice Amit Mahajan passed the interim order on Friday, October 16.
What the Court Said
FSSAI had said in its October 9 communication that such claims could suggest the left-out ingredients are unsafe or inferior, undermine other manufacturers and influence consumer behaviour, in breach of the 2018 advertising and claims regulations. Britannia argued that the three statements are simply facts about the product’s ingredients.
“Prima facie, this Court is in agreement with the arguments raised by the petitioner,” the court said, and stayed the FSSAI order. Without conceding its position, Britannia agreed to drop a separate “100% Millets” claim, and the court allowed it to sell the product without that line. Notice has been issued to FSSAI, and the case will be heard next on January 15, 2027.
For shoppers, the case is part of a wider push by the regulator on front-of-pack health claims, including recent notices over rice bran oil cholesterol claims. More short updates are on our Quick Reads page.
Based on reporting by LiveLaw and Bar and Bench.
Image: Bar and Bench.
