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Maharashtra FDA seizes hair oil over misleading claims
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
November 11 , 2026
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The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized 5,040 bottles of an Ayurvedic hair oil worth Rs 50.35 lakh from a Nashik-based beauty salon for allegedly being marketed through Instagram and Facebook with claims of regrowing hair on bald heads, despite the product label not carrying the manufacturer's name, address or manufacturing licence number. The FDA has initiated an investigation to identify the actual manufacturer and establish violations under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The Nashik Division of the Maharashtra FDA seized 5,040 bottles of VS Hair Growth Oil during an inspection of a beauty salon and imitation jewellery outlet, V. S. New Fashion Zone, at Shop No. 9, Rupal Apartment, Vise Mala, Sahajeevan Colony, College Road, Nashik, on November 5, 2026. The action followed confidential information received by the FDA that the product was being advertised and sold through social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, with claims that it could regrow hair in bald persons and promote hair growth.
The seized stock, comprising 100 ml bottles with a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 999 each, has been valued at Rs 50,34,960. The product carried batch number VS 1984 and a manufacturing date of September 2026.
According to the FDA, a preliminary verification of the product revealed serious deficiencies in its labelling. While the label mentioned the name of the marketer as V. S. New Fashion Zone, Nashik, along with the batch number, manufacturing date and MRP, it did not disclose the name and complete address of the actual manufacturer or the manufacturing licence number.
The FDA investigation also found that the proprietor of the establishment, Yogesh Bhagat, did not possess a manufacturing licence or other requisite legal permissions for manufacturing the Ayurvedic product. Consequently, the FDA inspection team seized the entire stock under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that the administration is taking action against products marketed through misleading advertisements and those that do not comply with statutory requirements governing the manufacture, labelling and sale of medicines. He emphasised the need for consumers to exercise caution while purchasing products promoted on social media, particularly those making claims relating to hair regrowth, baldness treatment and other health benefits without adequate regulatory disclosures.
The FDA has also drawn samples of VS Hair Growth Oil and other products found at the premises for testing and analysis. Further investigation is under way to establish the identity of the actual manufacturer, the circumstances surrounding the manufacture and marketing of the product, and the involvement of other persons or entities in its distribution. The administration said that appropriate legal action would be initiated against those responsible based on the findings of the investigation.
The seizure highlights regulatory concerns surrounding the online promotion and sale of products claiming therapeutic or cosmetic benefits without adequate information about their manufacturing source and regulatory compliance. Products marketed as Ayurvedic medicines are also required to meet applicable statutory requirements, including those relating to manufacturing permissions and labelling. Disclosure of the manufacturer's identity and licence details is essential for establishing product traceability and accountability in the event of quality or safety concerns.
In an appeal to consumers, the Maharashtra FDA has cautioned citizens against falling prey to social media advertisements making misleading claims such as curing baldness, regrowing hair or reducing body weight. It has advised consumers to verify that medicine labels carry the manufacturer's name, complete address and manufacturing licence number before purchasing or using such products.
The action forms part of the Maharashtra FDA's enforcement efforts to check the sale of unauthorised products and misleading health-related claims, particularly through digital and social media channels, where consumers may be influenced by promotional promises without verifying the regulatory credentials of the products.
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TOPICS
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, has issued a public advisory urging citizens to report any misleadi ...
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