The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated penal action against major e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Flipkart India and Zepto, for various food safety and regulatory violations.

The food regulator said on Wednesday that the action covers non-compliances such as misbranding and misleading claims, as well as the sale and display of prohibited or poisonous food articles on the platforms.

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In a social media post, FSSAI said it had undertaken a "major crackdown on e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Flipkart India and Zepto over regulatory non-compliances".

The regulator said it has stepped up enforcement action against food business operators (FBOs) and e-commerce companies over the past six months. It has also been using social media platforms to inform consumers about such enforcement measures.

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The latest action comes as FSSAI increases scrutiny of food products and their claims across online channels, where e-commerce platforms have emerged as an important avenue for consumers to purchase packaged and other food products.