Green Pyramid Biotech Private Limited - Sophab
Recommendation: Not Upheld | Medium: General Public
The ASCI had approached the advertiser for its response in addressing the grievances of the complainant and forwarded the details of the complaint, verbatim, to the advertiser with a request to respond to the same. The advertiser was offered an option to seek an Informal Resolution (IR) of the complaint by modifying the product packaging. The advertiser was also offered an opportunity for a telecon with the ASCI Secretariat, which they did not avail and submitted their response.
The advertiser in their response stated that Sophab is a fruits and vegetables washing solution designed to clean fresh produce before consumption. The FSSAI licence displayed on the packaging is not intended to indicate that the product is a food item or is meant to be consumed directly. It is displayed because the product is manufactured under a valid FSSAI licence applicable to the manufacturing operations for this category of product.
The advertiser further submitted a copy of FSSAI licence, a potability report demonstrating the product's safety parameters, and images of the product packaging (front and back).
The advertiser’s response, along with the supporting data, was referred to an independent technical expert of ASCI for their opinion.
The expert opinion was subsequently shared with the advertiser to allow them to make additional submissions. In response, the advertiser reiterated that the FSSAI mark is a licence for the manufacturer to produce the product under the relevant Processing Aids category and does not make the product a food item. The product is intended for washing fruits and vegetables before consumption, including those eaten with the skin.
The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) viewed the product packaging and considered the complaint, the advertiser’s response, and the expert opinion presented at the meeting.
The CCC discussed that the FSSAI mark on any food packaging only indicates a food business operating licence and is not related to the product or its parameters. The advertiser’s product, ‘Sophab Vegetable and Fruit Wash’, falls under the FSSAI category of Processing Aids. These are chemicals, physical agents related to the manufacture and processing of any food item.
The CCC further discussed that the safety parameters shown in the analytical report are well within the standard upper limits. The product contains a natural surfactant that removes chemical residues from the surface of fruits and vegetables. The FSSAI mark is a licence for the manufacturer to make the product under the above mentioned category and does not make it a food item.
Based on the above assessment, the CCC concluded that the FSSAI mark displayed on the product packaging is not in contravention of Chapter I of the ASCI Code. The complaint was NOT UPHELD.
