A study released by LabelBlind during the ongoing National Nutrition Month (Poshan Maah) analyses regulatory labelling compliance in nutraceuticals and health supplements in the Indian e-commerce market
The study analyses data from 460 nutraceutical and health supplement product label samples across 150 companies, sourced from E-commerce platforms, as well as select direct-to-consumer (D2C) portals. This representation ensures that the study reflects the consumer experience in reading information from nutraceutical and health supplement product labels as made available on leading e-commerce platforms in India.
The study evaluates product labelling against 20 compliance (sub) parameters derived from FSSAI regulations. Additionally, 8 parameters of labelling compliance, specific to probiotics and prebiotics were assessed for products under those categories.
Supporting the need for the study, Dr Rashida Vapiwala, Founder, of LabelBlind, observed, “The nutraceutical industry in India has witnessed tremendous growth over the past few years, driven by various factors such as demographic shifts in consumer segments, rise of preventive healthcare, growth of e-commerce, increasing purchasing power of the middle class and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the industry.
However, with the rapid proliferation of nutraceutical products, there are increasing concerns about gaps in labelling compliance, which could compromise consumer safety. This study is essential for drawing industry attention to these gaps in regulatory labelling compliance. By evaluating how well nutraceutical products adhere to the regulations set by FSSAI, the study will identify areas where the industry needs to improve. It will also spread awareness among manufacturers and marketers about the importance of regulatory compliance.”