Delhi High Court Stays FSSAI Ban on Dabur's '100% Pure' and '100% Natural' Product Claims

The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to Dabur India Limited by staying the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) order that prohibited the company from selling several food products carrying claims such as "100% Pure", "100% Natural", "100% Purity Guaranteed" and "100% Organic". The Court observed that such a prohibitory order should not have been issued without first giving the company an opportunity to be heard.

Background of the Case

Dabur challenged the FSSAI's August 3, 2026 order before the Delhi High Court after the regulator directed the company to stop selling a range of products carrying "100%" claims. The affected products included honey, cow ghee, apple cider vinegar, virgin coconut oil, sesame oil, coconut water and coconut milk.

According to FSSAI, such claims were ambiguous, difficult to verify and capable of misleading consumers under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.

Appearing for Dabur, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi argued that the company had been marketing these products for decades and that the regulator acted without issuing a show-cause notice or providing an opportunity of hearing. He also questioned the authority of the designated officer to issue such a prohibitory direction.

Court's Observations

Justice Amit Mahajan found that Dabur had made out a prima facie case for interim protection.

"The impugned prohibitory order of such nature ought not to have been passed without opportunity of hearing," the Court observed while granting interim relief.

The Court also noted that Dabur's products had been sold for several years and that the challenge required detailed examination.

On behalf of FSSAI, Central Government Standing Counsel Ashish Dixit submitted that an improvement notice had been issued to the company and defended the regulator's action.

Court's Decision

After hearing both sides, the Delhi High Court stayed the operation of the FSSAI's prohibitory order until the next date of hearing.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 24, 2026.