New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to several food business operators, including KFC, Nestlé India, Flipkart India and Open Secret, after taking cognisance of complaints circulating on social media regarding food safety and hygiene concerns.

According to reports, the regulator has sought detailed explanations from the companies concerning allegations ranging from hygiene issues at KFC outlets to the alleged presence of insects in dates products sold through an online platform and the reported detection of an insect or larvae in a Maggi packet.

The move comes as food safety authorities intensify scrutiny of consumer complaints shared on social media platforms, reflecting the growing role of digital channels in highlighting product quality concerns.

FSSAI seeks details on hygiene and safety measures

As part of the notices, FSSAI has directed the concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs) to identify and report any deficiencies related to hygiene, sanitation, food handling, storage practices, waste management, pest control and employee hygiene.

The regulator has also asked the companies to provide details of corrective and preventive measures initiated in response to the complaints, along with documentary evidence supporting those actions.

Officials have sought internal records and quality control documentation to assess whether existing food safety protocols were followed and whether additional measures are required.

The notices do not constitute findings of wrongdoing but are part of the regulatory process to verify complaints and ensure compliance with food safety standards.

Notice issued to Nestlé India over Maggi complaint

One of the notices was issued to Nestlé India following allegations regarding the detection of an insect or larvae in a packet of Maggi noodles. The development attracted significant market attention, with shares of Nestlé India reportedly falling more than 3 per cent during trading on Friday.

Responding to the allegations, Nestlé India strongly denied the claims and said it maintains rigorous quality and food safety standards across its manufacturing operations.

A spokesperson for the company stated that it categorically rejects allegations based on what it described as an unverified social media account. According to the company, it has not yet received the complaint sample from the complainant and has already submitted a detailed representation, along with quality records, batch analysis data and test reports, to the authorities.

The company further said that quality analyses conducted on batch and market samples, including testing by an FSSAI-accredited laboratory, confirmed compliance with quality standards and found no evidence of infestation.

Flipkart India and Open Secret also receive notices

FSSAI has also issued notices to Flipkart India and Open Secret after allegations surfaced that dates products delivered through Flipkart Minutes contained insects.

The regulator has requested internal quality check logs for the relevant period and details of all corrective actions taken following the complaint. Authorities have also sought information on preventive measures being implemented to avoid similar incidents in the future.

The case highlights increasing scrutiny of food products sold through e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, where maintaining quality across storage, packaging and delivery processes remains a key regulatory concern.

Neither company had issued a detailed public response immediately following the notice, according to available reports.

KFC faces scrutiny over hygiene concerns

In addition to the product-related complaints, FSSAI has reportedly sought explanations from KFC regarding alleged hygiene-related concerns.

The regulator has asked for information relating to sanitation practices, food handling procedures, pest control measures and overall compliance with food safety regulations at the concerned establishments.

Food safety experts note that such notices are a standard regulatory tool used to verify complaints and ensure adherence to prescribed standards. Depending on the findings of the investigation, authorities may seek further clarifications or recommend additional compliance measures.

Investigation and verification process underway

The issuance of notices marks the beginning of a fact-finding process rather than a conclusion regarding the allegations. FSSAI is expected to review submissions, quality records and supporting documents provided by the companies before determining any further course of action.

The regulator’s intervention underscores the importance of food safety compliance and the growing influence of consumer complaints shared through social media platforms.

As investigations continue, the companies involved are expected to cooperate with authorities and provide all requested information to establish the facts surrounding the complaints.

Consumers and industry stakeholders will now await the findings of the regulatory review, which could offer greater clarity regarding the allegations and the effectiveness of existing quality control systems.