Food Safety in India: Maharashtra FDA Crackdown, FSSAI Rules & Reforms

Subject: GS 2: Social Justice

Context: Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has run one of India’s most intensive state-level food safety crackdowns.

• The drive has crossed 1,100+ inspections, leading to licence suspensions, seizures, arrests, and FIRs across hotels, restaurants, dairies, bakeries, clubs, and food delivery dark stores.

IAS coaching

About Food Safety

• As per Section 3(1)(q) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the governing legislation for food regulation in India:
  • “Food safety” means assurance that food is acceptable for human consumption according to its intended use.

Consequences of Decline in Food Safety Standard

1. Public Health Risks: Contaminated and adulterated food causes food poisoning, gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases, with children and elderly people particularly vulnerable.
   • India ranked 15th globally in the rate of years of life lost due to foodborne diseases, despite an overall decline in the disease burden since 2000.
2. Economic Losses: Unsafe food leads to product recalls, business losses, legal costs and loss of consumer confidence.
3. Export & ‘Make in India’ Challenges: Non-compliance with international food standards can result in rejection or restriction of Indian food and agricultural exports.
   • Example: In 2024, concerns over pesticide residues in Indian spice products led to action/review in markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and the UK.
4. Environmental Degradation: Excessive pesticide use and unsafe agricultural practices can cause soil and water contamination.
5. Erosion of Consumer Trust: Food-safety violations and misleading claims such as “100% natural” or unsubstantiated health claims can quickly damage consumer confidence.
6. Pressure on Healthcare & Productivity: Foodborne diseases increase the burden on public hospitals and healthcare expenditure.

Legal and Institutional Measures Governing Food Safety in India

• Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954: It was the first comprehensive central legislation in India aimed at tackling food adulteration.
• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: The statutory and institutional framework in India for food adulteration is primarily governed by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 
  • Shifted the approach from reactive adulteration control to a science-based, preventive system covering the entire food supply chain.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): The statutory authority established under the FSS Act to lay down food standards and regulate food safety.
  • Supported by Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee that assess food risks and prescribe standards such as Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides, antibiotics and contaminants.
• Decentralised Enforcement: FSSAI sets the regulatory framework, while implementation is largely carried out by States and local authorities.
  • Commissioner of Food Safety: Oversees implementation of food-safety provisions at the State level.
  • Designated Officers (DOs): Serve at the district level, issue licences and take action against non-compliant food businesses.
  • Food Safety Officers (FSOs): Conduct inspections, collect food samples and monitor compliance at the field level.

Click to Explore UPSC Offline Coaching

Way Forward: Strengthening India’s Food Safety Ecosystem

• Strengthen Testing Infrastructure: Expand modern food-testing laboratories, mobile testing units and rapid detection technologies, particularly in rural and high-risk areas.
• Financial Incentives for Compliance: Link verified food-safety performance with easier and cheaper credit for compliant MSMEs, turning food safety from merely a regulatory obligation into a business incentive.
• Simplify Regulations & Promote Compliance
  • Make food-safety regulations simple, accessible and business-friendly, especially for MSMEs and small food businesses.
• Harness Technology for Preventive Food Safety: Use AI-based risk prediction, rapid testing, DNA barcoding and satellite-based risk mapping to identify contamination and adulteration before they reach consumers.
  • Develop integrated real-time food-safety surveillance systems linking laboratories, regulators and food businesses.
• Empower Consumers & Promote Safe Practices: Strengthen public awareness, consumer helplines and grievance-redressal mechanisms.
  • Make relevant inspection and compliance information accessible to consumers.
  • Promote responsible agricultural practices, including judicious pesticide use, hygienic storage and better waste management, to prevent contamination at source.
• Align with Global Standards & Build Export Competitiveness: Continuously harmonise FSSAI standards with Codex Alimentarius while incorporating India-specific risk assessments.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store