Consumer safety focus: FSSAI bans online sale of PIE Foods monk fruit drops

New Delhi – In a consumer‑centric enforcement step, the FSSAI barred PIE Foods from selling its monk‑fruit sweetener drops through any e‑commerce channel.

The authority’s inspection found that the firm was operating an online shop without the mandatory e‑commerce business approval and was marketing the drops without a valid relabeler licence.

Product packaging omitted required safety disclosures and carried unverified claims like “100 percent monk‑fruit extract”, “natural ingredients”, and a “doctor‑recommended” badge, contravening the 2020 labeling and 2018 advertising regulations.

Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, PIE Foods must obtain a central licence that includes all necessary approvals before resuming sales. Additionally, the company must secure clearance for the use of monk‑fruit extract, classified as a non‑specified food component.

The ban is part of a larger regulatory drive to ensure that food items marketed online meet all licensing, labelling, and safety standards, protecting Indian consumers from misleading claims.