Spotting Fakes
The marketplace is increasingly flooded with food items that bear false claims, such as being "organic" or "healthy," and some even operate with expired
or fabricated FSSAI licences to appear legitimate. This deceptive practice poses a significant risk to consumers, potentially exposing them to unsafe or substandard products. To combat this growing issue, a proactive approach of verifying both product barcodes and the legitimacy of FSSAI claims before finalizing a purchase is essential. By empowering yourself with simple verification methods, you can effectively shield yourself from falling victim to such fraudulent schemes and ensure that the food you bring home is both authentic and safe for consumption.
The Smart Consumer Tool
A powerful ally in this fight against product fraud is the Smart Consumer mobile application, ingeniously developed by GS1 India. This application acts as a direct gateway to the official DataKart registration database, providing users with the capability to instantaneously confirm the authenticity of a product's barcode and its associated FSSAI licence. This streamlined process allows shoppers to bypass uncertainty and gain immediate, reliable information about the products they intend to purchase, thereby fostering a more transparent and trustworthy retail environment for everyone involved.
Verification Steps
To utilize this invaluable tool, the process is straightforward and accessible to any smartphone user. Begin by downloading the Smart Consumer app from your preferred app store. Once installed, navigate to the 'Barcode Scanner' feature within the application. Simply point your phone's camera at the product's barcode, and the app will swiftly process the information. The results displayed typically include the registered company name, crucial FSSAI licence details, the manufacturer's address, and sometimes even product images. If the scanner reports 'Barcode not found,' or if the company name presented by the app does not align with what is printed on the product's packaging, it should serve as a strong indicator that the item might be a high-risk counterfeit, demanding extreme caution.
Navigating Exceptions
It is important to acknowledge that not all products will necessarily be found in the GS1/DataKart database. This is particularly true for very small-scale local producers who might not hold an official FSSAI licence, or whose products may not yet be registered. In such instances, the Smart Consumer app might not return any data. While this doesn't automatically mean a product is fraudulent, it does signify a need for heightened vigilance and careful consideration before making a purchase. Consumers should exercise an elevated degree of caution and perhaps seek additional information or reassurance if possible when dealing with items that fall outside the readily verifiable digital records.
