SEA files complaint against Patanjali for misleading ad

Edible oil industry body, Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA), has filed complaints with food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and advertising industry watchdog, Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), against Patanjali Ayurved for alleged misleading ads for mustard oil and sought action against the Baba Ramdev-promoted firm.
According to a report in PTI: SEA has written to FSSAI and ASCI requesting regulators to take action against Patanjali, alleging that the company’s recent advertisement for ‘Kacchi Ghani Mustard Oil’ was not in good taste.
“We would like to bring to your notice the content mentioned in Patanjali Ayurved Ltd advertisement is totally incorrect and misleading the consumers,” SEA said in a letter to the FSSAI and the ASCI.
The advertisement is unnecessarily misleading the consumer and also derogatory and denigrating to the oil industry, SEA said, adding that the vegetable oil industry was a responsible industry and such unfounded communications negate the image of the industry.
“This advertisement willfully wants to create panic in the minds of consumers against solvent extracted oils and refined oils. The advertisements contravenes numerous ASCI codes. We therefore kindly request you to look into our complain and direct Patanjali Ayurved to withdrew these misleading advertisement,” SEA said in its letter.
Patanjali has, however, insisted that its commercial was based on facts, findings and research. We do not intend or mislead any one.
The association said it had sent a detailed memorandum with documentary evidence to Patanjali Ayurved, drawing their attention and requested to withdraw the misleading statements made in the advertisement against solvent extracted oils.
“Unfortunately, Patanjali continued the advertisement both in print and electronic media and therefore the Association has approached FSSAI as well as Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) to direct the Patanjali to withdraw the said advertisement with misleading facts/statements,” SEA said in a statement.
Patanjali Ayurved dragged to court
A complaint against the advertisement of toothpaste of Patanjali Ayurved, company of Baba Ramdev, has been filed in a local court in Sriganganagar and the matter for hearing is due on May 19.
According to a report in PTI: The complainant Ashok Gupta, a doctor, had submitted the complaint to the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Raisingh Nagar) Mahendra Singh Beniwal on April 18 which has been accepted.
In the complaint, Gupta has raised doubts on the quality of the toothpaste.
“The complainant was also hurt by the advertisement which questions doctors,” said Jitendra Soni, counsel for the complainant.
The complaint was filed against Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna under sections 419 (punishment for cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), 500 (defamation) and 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory).