The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a notice to Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of engaging in “deceptive trade practices” in connection with the sale of sweets labeled as ‘Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad.’ The notice comes in response to a complaint filed by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), alleging that Amazon is misleading consumers by selling sweets under the guise of “prasad” from the yet-to-be-inaugurated Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The CCPA contends that such practices mislead consumers about the true characteristics of the products, potentially influencing their purchase decisions based on inaccurate representations. The notice requires Amazon to respond within seven days, and failure to do so may result in necessary actions being initiated against the company under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The specific products listed on Amazon’s platform under scrutiny include ‘Sri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad – Raghupati Ghee Ladoo, Ayodhya Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad, Khoya Khobi Ladoo, Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad – Desi Cow Milk Peda,’ among others. The controversy raises questions about the ethical marketing of religiously significant items and the potential exploitation of sentiments for commercial purposes.