Dabur seeks legal counsel following FSSAI prohibition order

Major fast-moving consumer goods manufacturer Dabur India has sought legal assistance regarding the next steps after receiving a prohibitory order from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The company stated that it is actively engaging with the regulator in response to the ban on selling products containing '100 percent' claims and has requested a report on the measures taken.

Details of the Ban

On Monday evening, FSSAI issued a ban on the sale of Dabur India food products that contained '100 percent' claims. These products include honey, apple cider vinegar, immature coconut oil, sesame oil, cow ghee, coconut water, coconut milk, and other similar items.

Furthermore, the regulator required the company to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 15 days.

Background of the Issue

Previously, on April 8, Dabur India received a notification from FSSAI concerning misleading '100 percent' claims on one of its products. In its statement, the regulator noted that the food business operator had not taken satisfactory corrective actions.

In response, the company stated in its stock exchange filings that it had responded appropriately, clarifying that the disputed product label did not use the '100% Pure' claim. The company also added that, as a responsible corporate citizen, Dabur had already begun the process of transitioning to new labels and advertising compliant with FSSAI requirements, without the 100 percent claim. It specified that most labels, advertising, and websites mentioned in the said order have either transitioned to the new format or are in the process of doing so.

The major consumer goods manufacturer stated in its filing to the stock exchange that this notification relates solely to the interpretation of the product description and does not call into question the quality, safety, purity, or standards of the products manufactured and sold by the company.

The company noted that the impact of this ban on its financial position, business operations, or results is limited only to the disputed food products.

In a media statement, Dabur India Limited expressed the view that the claims on its product labels comply with current legal and regulatory frameworks and are consistent with long-standing industry practices. The company emphasized that it upholds the purity and quality of its products and has never made misleading claims.

iol.co.zaJuly 23, 15:10

DA requests Public Protector to probe Gayton McKenzie over alleged misuse of R31m FIFA and R110m arts funds

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally requested that the Public Protector launch an investigation into Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie. The request stems from allegations that McKenzie violated the Executive Ethics Code, misused his authority, and improperly benefited members of his political party through appointments connected to public fund allocations.

Основные претензии DA

The complaint, filed on Thursday, focuses on two primary areas of concern. First, it concerns the appointment of a panel responsible for distributing nearly R110 million via the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) programme. Second, it addresses the department's expenditure of close to R31 million on a FIFA World Cup programme held in North America.

Обвинения в политическом патронаже

Speaking to the media outside the Public Protector’s offices in Pretoria, DA Sport, Arts and Culture spokesperson Leah Potgieter stated that the party seeks an independent review into what they characterize as a concerning pattern of questionable spending and political patronage. Potgieter emphasized that a Minister's oath requires exercising public power honestly and diligently for the benefit of South Africans, questioning whether Minister Gayton McKenzie upheld this commitment.

The DA alleges that three out of the six individuals appointed to the 2025/26 MGE adjudication panel were active members of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), the political party led by McKenzie. Potgieter pointed out that half of the panel tasked with allocating nearly R110 million in public money to cultural organizations, festivals, and artists belonged to the Minister's own party.

Furthermore, the DA claims that McKenzie unilaterally set the criteria for the panel and made the appointments without conducting any conflict-of-interest vetting, arguing that the MGE was intended to foster the creative economy, not to benefit the Patriotic Alliance.

Вопросы по FIFA и другим назначениям

Concerns were also raised regarding appointments to bodies under the department's purview, such as the Robben Island Museum council, where the DA suggests several appointees have ties to McKenzie’s political network. The second part of the complaint pertains to the FIFA World Cup programme, which McKenzie had previously claimed benefited 151 individuals.

According to departmental figures cited by the DA, the spending included approximately R7.9 million for travel, R6.7 million for a legends exhibition match, over R3 million for match tickets, and R10 million for programme activities. Potgieter questioned the justification for this expenditure, noting that while athletes often fundraise for flights, this Minister oversaw a R31 million World Cup event, especially while many sporting federations struggle financially.

Реакции парламента и партий

Joe McGluwa, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, stressed that Parliament has a responsibility to guarantee accountability for public spending, stating that oversight is mandatory to ensure every rand is spent wisely and requesting a detailed breakdown of the R31 million expenditure.

The DA is urging the Public Protector to determine if McKenzie failed to act honestly and diligently, acted contrary to his office's integrity, improperly benefited others, or created a conflict between his ministerial duties and party interests. In response, the Patriotic Alliance dismissed the allegations as a politically motivated effort by the DA to gain publicity before the November municipal elections, asserting that McKenzie had addressed all parliamentary questions and challenging the DA to provide proof of misconduct.