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Food

Inaccurate Nutrient Claims on Indian E-commerce Platforms Raises Concerns

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study by researchers at SRM Institute of Science and Technology has found that a significant portion of nutrient claims on food products sold on Indian e-commerce platforms are inaccurate. The study, published in the journal Discover Food, analyzed 105 food products and found that 71.4% of claims were accurate, while 28.6% were inaccurate. The researchers highlighted that certain claims, such as 'Rich in fibre' and 'Rich in calcium', were frequently misleading, with the former showing 88% inaccuracies and the latter exhibiting 100% inaccuracies. The study emphasizes the need for stricter guidelines, improved digital surveillance, and consumer education to safeguard consumer health and ensure transparency in India's rapidly expanding e-commerce food sector.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed 105 food products from Indian e-commerce platforms and found that 71.4% of nutrient claims were accurate, while 28.6% were inaccurate.
  • The price of products ranged from Rs. 10 to Rs. 698, with a mean price of Rs. 229.57.
  • Certain claims, such as 'Rich in fibre' and 'Rich in calcium', were frequently misleading, with the former showing 88% inaccuracies and the latter exhibiting 100% inaccuracies.
  • The study emphasizes the need for stricter guidelines, improved digital surveillance, and consumer education to safeguard consumer health and ensure transparency in India's e-commerce food sector.
  • The researchers suggest that regulatory enforcement is critical to prevent misleading information on food products.
  • The study highlights the significance of evaluating claim accuracy dynamics across price points and categories in the Indian market.

Statistics:

  • 105 food products were analyzed in the study.
  • 71.4% of nutrient claims on food products were accurate.
  • 28.6% of nutrient claims on food products were inaccurate.
  • Of the inaccurate claims, 88% were related to 'Rich in fibre' and 100% were related to 'Rich in calcium'.
  • The price of products ranged from Rs. 10 to Rs. 698, with a mean price of Rs. 229.57.
  • The study was published in the journal Discover Food, Volume 5, Issue 1, pp. 1-15.
  • The study was funded by SRM Institute of Science and Technology.

Sources:

  • Evaluating nutrient claim accuracy of packaged food products in Indian E-commerce platforms. Discover Food, 2025, 5(1):1-15.
  • NewsRx. Data on Food Research Described by Researchers at SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Evaluating nutrient claim accuracy of packaged food products in Indian E-commerce platforms). Food Weekly News. October 30, 2025; p 20.

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