Bengaluru ‘Peptide Party’ Called Off After Food Safety Department Requests Regulatory Information

Summary:
The Bengaluru ‘Peptide Party’ organised by Upsurge Labs LLP was cancelled after the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration sought details about the products, their intended use and regulatory approvals. The FSDA also requested information on scientific claims, medical supervision, FSSAI licences and compliance with drug regulations. The department clarified that its notice did not establish any violation, but sought clarification over the proposed human use of the products. Organisers subsequently confirmed the cancellation and requested additional time to submit the required documents. 

A Bengaluru event promoted as a ‘Peptide Party’ has been cancelled after the state Food Safety Department asked organisers to clarify which products were to be offered and whether they had the required approvals for human use. Upsurge Labs LLP called off the event in Koramangala after the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) issued a notice titled “Cancellation of Peptide Party” seeking information about the peptides and their regulatory status.

The gathering was scheduled for Saturday, August 29, and had been promoted on social media as an event focused on peptides, which are short chains of amino acids with various functions in the human body. The publicity, however, raised questions about the products that would be available, their intended applications and whether the necessary regulatory permissions had been obtained.

After taking note of the event’s social media promotions, the FSDA sent a notice to the organisers on August 27. It requested information on the products, including their composition, source, intended purpose and regulatory approvals. The department also asked whether the peptides were considered drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and, if they were not, what legal basis supported their classification.

Peptides consist of short chains of amino acids, which are the basic components of proteins. They occur naturally in the body and are involved in functions related to hormones, metabolism and tissue repair. Although certain peptide-based medicines, including insulin, have recognised medical applications, an increasing number of peptides are being marketed online for purposes such as weight management, muscle development, recovery, anti-ageing and longevity, raising concerns over their safety and regulatory standing.

The department additionally requested information about the claims associated with the products, as well as the scientific evidence and regulatory approvals supporting those claims.

In case the peptides were intended to be administered during the event, organisers were required to provide information on medical supervision, consent processes and measures for managing potential adverse events.

The notice also included products that could have been marketed as food products, health supplements or nutraceuticals. For such products, the FSDA requested the applicable FSSAI licence and other relevant regulatory documents.

The FSDA clarified that issuing the notice did not constitute a determination that any violation had occurred. According to the department, the promotional material raised issues that needed to be examined, including whether any proposed use of the products in humans had received the appropriate regulatory and ethical approvals.

The organisers were instructed to provide the requested documents by 10.30 am on Friday, August 28. The department stated that failure to submit the information could lead to the event being kept on hold and potentially result in further regulatory action.

In an advisory issued on Friday, the FSDA said authorised representatives of Upsurge Labs LLP had subsequently submitted a written statement confirming that the event had been cancelled. The organisers had also requested additional time to provide documents related to the event, the department added.