Food Safety

India must strengthen food safety enforcement and regulatory capacity

FSSAI's recent actions highlight the need for stronger food safety enforcement, stricter penalties and better coordination to protect consumers and boost global trust

Pune tops Maharashtra in complaints over unhygienic food, says FDA

Pune district has reported the highest number of complaints about unhygienic food in Maharashtra since the state Food and Drug Administration launched a complaint-reporting portal, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has said. The senior IAS officer was in the city on Saturday to attend a food safety conference organised by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture. Speaking to reporters, he said the FDA recently launched the portal "complaints.mahafda.in" to allow people to register their complaints concerning food items. "Thousands of complaints poured in after the portal went live and 10 lakh hits were recorded within 24 hours," he said. Asked about the distribution of complaints across the state, he said, "The highest number of complaints has been registered in Pune district, and most of them concern unhygienic food." The new system will bring in accountability and transparency, the official said. The FDA joint commissioner of the region concerned will take ...

FDA suspends licence of Mumbai's famed Parsi Dairy Farm over hygiene issues

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licence of Mumbai-based Parsi Dairy Farm Pvt Ltd after finding serious food safety and hygiene violations, officials said on Thursday. The crackdown on the popular chain was part of a statewide enforcement drive in which food products worth more than Rs 1.90 crore were seized, they added. Inspections at Parsi Dairy Farm Pvt Ltd's Princess Street unit in south Mumbai revealed multiple violations of Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations, prompting the immediate suspension of its FSSAI licence, the FDA said in a statement. Inspectors found unhygienic conditions, including a damaged raw milk reception dock, cracks in storage and production areas, improper storage of raw materials and finished products, heavy infestation of flies, broken flooring and drainage and absence of an effluent treatment plant, it said. The FDA team also found incomplete medical records of food handlers, inadequate

FDA suspends food business licences of 3 Mumbai restaurants: Here's why

The Maharashtra FDA has suspended the food business licences of Shalimar Hospitality, Noor Mohammadi Hotel and Rehmania Restaurant after inspections found multiple food safety and hygiene violation

FSSAI issues notices to Swiggy Instamart after complaints of expired food

Food regulator FSSAI on Saturday said it has issued 9 notices to Swiggy Instamart following several consumer complaints, including of alleged supply of rotten and expired food products by the platform. Instamart is the quick-commerce platform of Swiggy. In a social media post on X, Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said it has "issued 9 notices to Swiggy Instamart following multiple consumer complaints alleging violations under the FSS Act 2006." Consumer complaints alleged the supply of expired, spoiled, rotten, contaminated and otherwise unafe food products through Swiggy Instamart, the regulator said. The regulator has directed the platform to submit a detailed explanation and compliance report failing which appropriate legal action will be initiated. Elaborating on the consumer complaints, FSSAI said, "An infant food formulation was reportedlv found in a highly deteriorated and unsafe condition, showing signs of contamination and improper storage and ...

FSSAI pulls up alcohol makers over flavour, age claims: What the rules say

FSSAI found some alcohol makers using prohibited flavours, making misleading age claims and incorrectly declaring the age of blended spirits

Regulatory reforms can lift spice market to $13 bn by 2034: Icrier

An ICRIER policy brief says India's spices market could expand to nearly $13 billion by 2034 if regulatory gaps, testing inconsistencies and supply chain issues are addressed

FSSAI issues notices to Lotte India, 2 others over misleading claims

Food regulator FSSAI has issued notices to Lotte India, Ferns N Petals and Kubera Foods for misleading claims and violation of labelling norms on their various food products. In a social media post on Instagram, FSSAI said these companies have been directed to explain within 7 days as to why action should not be initiated against them under the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006. Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notice to Lotte India Corporation Pvt Ltd "over utilisation of non-compliant pre-printed labels and misleading labelling claims on various food products." FSSAI observed several instances of non-compliance by Lotte India. "The company utilised non-compliant pre-printed labels bearing the old company name "Lotte India Corporation Ltd" without obtaining prior approval," it added. Moreover, Lotte Choco Pie with Rich Marshmallow, Lotte Choco Pie Real Orange and Lotte Choco Pie Choco Burst bear the claim '100 per cent vegetarian', which has been found to

Prescription for safer food: Why India needs stronger safety standards

We need robust standards for pesticide residues, food additives and other toxins - not just to ensure that India's food is good for export but also to protect our health

FSSAI issues notices to 14 firms for 'misleading' claims, branding

The food regulator has issued notices to more than a dozen companies over alleged misleading claims, branding and labelling violations, and hygiene-related complaints

FSSAI issues notices to 8 food companies for misleading claims on packaging

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Sunday issued notices to eight food business operators for using misleading brand names, trade names and product claims in violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The companies served notices include Emami Healthy & Tasty, Health Aid, Troovy, The Healthy Factory, Healthy Master, Healthy Choice, Plan B and Neuherbs. The regulator announced the notices through its official social media handles. Among the prominent names flagged is Emami Healthy & Tasty, the cooking oils arm of the Kolkata-based Emami Group. FSSAI said its trade name is "likely to mislead consumers and appears to be in contravention of applicable FSSAI regulations". Plan B, which markets its products as "plant based vegan", has drawn the regulator's attention for creating the impression that its products are vegan - without obtaining prior approval for vegan food endorsement in its FSSAI licence. The Healthy Factory's "Zero Maida Whole ...

FSSAI mandates 'vegan' logo on all approved food packages from July 2027

Detailed diagrams specifying the logo, including size, placement, and colour standards, were provided in the notification to guide manufacturers

NIT Rourkela unveils AI-based tech for instant spice adulteration detection

NIT Rourkela researchers develop FTIR and AI-based system to detect and quantify spice adulteration within seconds, offering faster and cost-effective food safety monitoring

Five-second rule: Is dropped food ever really safe to eat? Myth debunked

Fact-check Friday: You've probably followed the five-second rule after dropping food; here's how bacteria transfer instantly, what factors matter, and why this popular rule may not protect you at all

From compliance to confidence: A new paradigm for food safety in India

India's food ecosystem is vast, diverse, and rapidly evolving - spanning everything from street vendors and small manufacturers to large-scale food processors and global exporters

Govt clears food safety reforms; street vendors to get deemed Fssai status

Government has approved food safety reforms including deemed FSSAI registration for street vendors and perpetual validity for licences to simplify compliance for food businesses

FSSAI pushes for QR codes on plant-based food labels to boost transparency

Food safety authority FSSAI on Wednesday urged plant-based food manufacturers to adopt QR codes on product labels, saying existing labels are too small for consumers to read, as the regulator seeks to build trust in a rapidly growing sector. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Chief Executive Officer Rajit Punhani, speaking at the 4th Plant-Based Foods Summit, said the authority was not looking to make QR codes mandatory, but wanted companies to voluntarily adopt the technology so younger consumers could scan and verify ingredient lists and nutritional content. "The label is too small, it's difficult to read and difficult to comprehend," Punhani said, adding that Gen Z consumers in particular could benefit from being able to scan codes to check daily nutritional requirements. Punhani acknowledged that the regulator faced conflicting pressures from the food industry and the medical community over the health merits of plant-based diets, and said misinformation on soci

Food regulators warn Jaipur McDonald's over reused oil, rotten tomatoes

Food adulteration is often reported across India, but safety lapses at ‌high-profile ​brands like McDonald's ​are rare

Food companies take note of rising AI-generated images for refund

Restaurants, aggregators deploy AI detection tools as morphed photos of melted cakes, flies in food drive fraudulent claims

Labelling like it is: ORS label ban should spark rethink on other products

ORS is basically a medically formulated mixture of water, glucose, and essential electrolytes such as sodium and potassium