Sweet Shop Owner Claims Herbal Mysoorpa Can Cure COVID-19, FSSAI Suspends Licence
By: Nandika Chand | Last Updated July 9, 2020
A sweet shop in Coimbatore district had its licence suspended after the owner made dubious claims that herbal Mysoorpa can cure COVID-19. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) filed a case under Section 53 – the penalty for misleading advertisement, and 61 – punishment for false information of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Tamil Selvan, FSSAI officer confirmed that they seized 120kg of Mysurpa from the shop. Officials also collected samples of the product for laboratory testing. Selvan said an enquiry has been launched against the shop owner, Sriram, for making false and misleading claims.
He said Sriram was questioned and he couldn’t even name the ingredients used in Mysurpa. The shop owner had named his shop (sweet stall) Mysurpa as ‘Photon Speed Corona Cure Mysoorpa’. Moreover, Sriram made misleading advertisement which directed consumers that each bite of the sweet must be chewed 13 times inside the mouth, with lips closed then swallowed. For children the dose level would be half. Sriram also claimed that the bitter taste of herbs would become sweeter as the immunity improves.
The advertisement further directed consumers to take Mysoorpa for three days, 4 pieces per day. The shop also sold 50grams of Mysurpa for Rs50 and 1kg for Rs800.
