Live insects found in Maggi and Open Secret packets:FSSAI sends notices to Nestle, KFC and Flipkart

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken action following complaints on social media and issued show cause notices to several major companies including Nestle. Nestle received this notice after a complaint about finding insects (larvae) in a packet of its most popular product Maggi. FSSAI has asked the company to immediately submit a report after taking action on this matter. FSSAI has also taken action on other complaints that went viral on social media and issued a notice to fast-food chain KFC regarding hygiene (cleanliness) issues. Additionally, the regulator has also asked Flipkart India and Open Secret company to respond following a complaint about finding insects in a dates product. FSSAI asks Nestle for answers on 3 key points The food regulator (FSSAI) has asked Nestle India for a detailed action taken report, which has been directed to include three main areas: Why is this matter sensitive for Nestle? Maggi Noodles is one of Nestle India’s largest and commercially most important brands. This notice is also sensitive for the company because in 2015, Nestle had already faced a major regulatory crisis. At that time, FSSAI had ordered a nationwide recall of Maggi due to high lead content and MSG labeling controversy. That controversy had severely damaged the company’s sales and brand trust, which the company regained after years of hard work. In such a situation, this new notice following social media complaints is being considered quite significant for the company’s credibility. Action after viral complaints on social media With notices issued simultaneously to Nestle, KFC, Flipkart India and Open Secret, a new pattern in food safety regulation is becoming visible. Now consumer complaints that go viral on social media platforms are directly converting into official regulatory notices. This has significantly reduced the time between an individual complaint and an official report being demanded from the company. This has become a major operational risk for food and quick service companies operating in India, where a single viral post can create legal and reputational difficulties for the company.