**Summary:**
In response to concerns regarding increasing adulteration in food items such as milk, edible oil, spices, and packaged food, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addresses the issue through the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). FSSAI is committed to ensuring the availability of safe food to consumers through regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products conducted by Food Safety Departments of States/UTs and FSSAI regional offices.
A Risk Based Inspection System (RBIS) has been implemented to prioritize inspections of high-risk food categories, including milk and milk products and prepared food. Annual Third-Party Audits are mandatory for manufacturers/processors holding Central Licenses for high-risk categories. Enforcement officials have been assigned monthly minimum targets for enforcement sampling, surveillance sampling, and inspections.
For food sample testing, FSSAI has notified 244 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). Additionally, 22 Referral Food Laboratories analyze appellate samples. To improve testing capabilities in remote areas, 305 Mobile Food Testing Laboratories (MFTLs) have been procured and deployed by States/UTs.
Non-conforming food samples result in penal actions against Food Business Operators (FBOs) as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including adjudication and prosecution, with penalties/punishments imposed as per Chapter IX of the Act.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy in India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): An authority established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 responsible for setting standards and regulating the food industry in India.
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: An act of the Parliament of India to consolidate the laws relating to food safety and standards.
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL): An accreditation body for testing and calibration laboratories in India.
States UTs: Refers to the States and Union Territories of India. These entities are responsible for implementing food safety regulations at the local level.
Food Business Operators (FBOs): Entities that carry out any of the food business activities.
Risk Based Inspections System (RBIS): A system implemented by FSSAI to prioritize inspections based on the risk associated with food businesses.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3226
TO BE ANSWERED ON8THAUGUST, 2025
FOODADULTERATION
3226.SHRIRAHULKASWAN:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware of increasing adulteration in food items such as milk,
edible oil,spices andpackaged food, posing serious healthhazardstocitizens;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof; and
(c)the stepstaken/proposedtobetakenbytheGovernmenttoestablishstricter qualitychecks,
field-level inspections and punitive measures against manufacturers or sellers involved in
such adulteration?
ANSWER
THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is fully committed to ensure
the availability of safe food to the consumers across the country. In order to achieve the
mandate FSSAI conducts regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of
various food products. These are conducted throughout the year by the officials of Food Safety
Departments of the respective States/ UTs and Regional offices of FSSAI to check compliance
with the quality and safety parameters and other requirements as laid down under Food Safety
andStandardsAct, 2006,andRegulations made thereunder.
FSSAI has started Risk Based Inspections System (RBIS) wherein inspections
planned on the risk associated with the Food Businesses. This enables the authorities to carry
out inspectionsofhighrisk foodcategoriessuch asmilkandmilkproducts, preparedfood etc.
inmore intensive manner.
Annual Third Party Audit has been made mandatory for the
Manufacturers/Processors holding Central License for the high risk categories. Enforcement
officials have been assigned monthly minimum targets for enforcement sampling,surveillance sampling and inspections.
FSSAI has notified 244 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration
Laboratories (NABL) for the testing of food samples, which are collected by Food Safety
Officers (FSOs) during inspections and routine checks. In addition, 22 Referral Food
Laboratories analyse the appellate samples. To bridge the gap in testing capabilities and
extend outreach for on-the-spot food testing in the remote areas, 305 Mobile Food Testing
Laboratories(MFTLs)have been procured& deployedbyState/UTs.
In cases, where the food samples are found non-conforming, penal actions are
initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators (FBOs) as per the provisions of FSS
Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder which includes punitive measure viz.
Adjudication & Prosecution which are judicial in nature, wherein penalty/punishment are
imposed asperchapterIX of the FSS Act, 2006.
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