Amazon Issued Notice by Central Consumer Protection Authority Over Misleading 'Sri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad' Sweet Sales

New Delhi, Jan 20, 2024:  The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has initiated action against Amazon Seller Services Pvt. Ltd. for the alleged sale of sweets under misleading claims. The products, sold on the e-commerce platform Amazon.in, were purportedly branded as 'Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad.' This move followed a representation by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), accusing Amazon of engaging in deceptive trade practices.

CCPA, led by Chief Commissioner Shri Rohit Kumar Singh, scrutinized the representation and found that several sweets and food products were being marketed on Amazon with the claim of being “Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad.” This practice of selling food products online with false representations is considered misleading and influences consumer purchasing decisions based on inaccurate product attributes.

“Enabling the sale of food products online that make false representations misleads consumers regarding the genuine characteristics of the product. Such practice falsely influences consumers to make purchase decisions they might not have otherwise taken, had the accurate attributes of the product been mentioned,” the CCPA noted.

In accordance with Rule 4(3) of the Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules, 2020, which prohibits e-commerce entities from adopting unfair trade practices, and the definition of 'Misleading advertisement' under Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, CCPA has sought a response from Amazon within seven days of the notice. Failure to respond could lead to further action under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

The products in question, listed in the notice, include various types of sweets labeled as 'Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad' with different compositions, such as 'Raghupati Ghee Ladoo,' 'Khoya Khobi Ladoo,' 'Ghee Bundi Ladoo,' and 'Desi Cow Milk Peda.' The specific product links on Amazon have been identified and included in the notice.

This development reflects CCPA's ongoing efforts to safeguard consumer interests against misleading and deceptive trade practices in the burgeoning e-commerce sector. The authority's prompt action serves as a reminder to all e-commerce platforms to adhere to fair and transparent practices, ensuring the protection of consumer rights in the digital marketplace.