Court Slaps Notice To Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Over Alleged Fish Extracts In Vegetarian Products

In a recent legal development, the Delhi High Court has issued notices to Patanjali Ayurved and Babadev. This follows a plea alleging that their herbal tooth powder, 'Divya Manjan', marketed as vegetarian, contains non-vegetarian ingredients. The petitioner claims the product includes samudraphen (Sepia officinalis), derived from fish extract.

The petition, filed by advocate Yatin Sharma, argues that the packaging of 'Divya Manjan' features a green dot symbolising vegetarian products. However, the ingredient list reveals the presence of Sepia officinalis. This discrepancy has led to accusations of misbranding and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Allegations and Religious Concerns

The petitioner states that he and his family have used 'Divya Manjan' for years due to its promotion as a vegetarian product. The discovery of non-vegetarian ingredients is particularly distressing for them because their religious beliefs prohibit consuming such substances. Sharma also mentioned that Baba Ramdev admitted in a YouTube video that samudraphen is an animal-based product used in 'Divya Manjan'.

Despite filing complaints with various government agencies, including the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), no action has been taken so far. The plea seeks judicial intervention to address the alleged mislabelling and hold the respondents accountable.

Previous Legal Issues

Patanjali and its co-founders Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna have faced legal challenges before. The Supreme Court previously directed them to remove misleading advertisements of their ayurvedic products and issue a public apology for deceptive advertising practices.

The petitioner is also seeking compensation for the distress caused by inadvertently consuming a non-vegetarian product. The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for November 28.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about product labelling and consumer rights in India. It underscores the importance of accurate information on packaging, especially for products marketed based on dietary restrictions or religious beliefs.