Thursday 17 April 2025
FSSAI Ensures Fresh Food Deliveries with New Shelf Life Rule
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced a new regulation mandating that all food products sold online to have a minimum of 30% or 45 days of shelf life upon delivery. This initiative is designed to address consumer concerns worries about the freshness and safety of online food products.
The growth of e-commerce has transformed how consumers buy food products. However, it has also led to concerns about the shelf life of products delivered to consumers. Reports of receiving products with minimal short shelf lives have led the FSSAI to implement this regulation to ensure better quality control and consumer safety.
The updated regulation requires that any food product sold online must have at least 30% of its total shelf life or a minimum of 45 days left, whichever is less, at the time of delivery. For example, if a product has a total shelf of 100 days, it should have at least than 30 days remaining when delivered to the customer.
Consumers will benefit from receiving fresher products that have a longer shelf life, resolving past complaints related to receiving near-expiry items. The regulation ensures that consumers can enjoy their food purchased without worrying about them expiring right away.
E-commerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) will need to modify their inventory management systems to align with the new regulations. This may require improved monitoring of product expiration dates and ensuring timely restocking to meet the shelf life standards. Non-compliance could lead to penalties and harm the sellers reputation.
The FSSAI met with several e-commerce platforms to discuss implementing the new regulation. The authority highlighted the importance of compliance and the role of e-commerce platforms in ensuring consumer safety. Platforms were also urged to align product claims with product label details and follow the FSSAIs labeling and Display Regulations.
Ensuring that food products delivered to consumers have an adequate shelf life is crucial for maintaining food safety standards. The regulation also aims to avoid the sale of near-expiry products, reduce food wastage, and ensure costumer trust in online food purchases.
The FSSAI also highlighted the importance of delivering food items separately from non-food items to avoid possible contamination. This initiative is part of a larger efforts to maintain the safety and quality of food products during delivery.
The FSSAI’s new regulation on the minimum shelf life for online food deliveries is a significant advancement towards enhancing food safety standards within e-commerce sector. By ensuring that consumers receive fresher products, the FSSAI aims to address ongoing concerns. It will also foster greater trust in online food purchases. The initiative will require e-commerce platforms and sellers to adapt their practices to meet the new standards. The initiative will ultimately provide consumers with better-quality food products.
As the new regulation comes into effect, it will be crucial for e-commerce platforms and sellers to implement effective measures for compliance. The success of the regulation will be determined by how well the industry adapts to these changes. It also will be determined by the impact it has on consumer satisfaction and food safety standards.
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