**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 1967 in Lok Sabha, answered on December 11, 2025, concerning the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Patanjali Foods Limited. The document outlines that no tender was issued for the MoU and details Patanjali Foods Limited's investment intentions and the regulatory oversight by the FSSAI. Notices have been issued to Patanjali Foods Limited under Section 32 of the Act and rules and regulations framed thereunder.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **MoU Details:**
* No tender was issued for MoUs aimed at promoting investments in the food processing sector.
* The MoU with Patanjali Foods Limited was signed during World Food India 2025 based on the company's investment intent.
* The Ministry's role under the MoU is to provide facilitation support for the proposed investments.
* **Investment Intent:**
* Patanjali Foods Limited intends to invest approximately Rs. 1000 crore.
* Investments will be in food processing and allied sectors, in both greenfield and brownfield projects.
* Projects will be located in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Orissa.
* **Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement:**
* FSSAI is mandated to establish standards for food articles and regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import.
* FSSAI, through State/UTs and regional offices, conducts regular monitoring and inspection to ensure compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
* Penal action is initiated against defaulting Food Business Operators for non-compliance.
* Notices have been issued to M/s Patanjali Foods Limited under Section 32 of the Act and rules and regulations framed thereunder.
**Impact Analysis**
**Patanjali Foods Limited**
* **Impact:** Obligation to execute investment plans as outlined in the MoU. Subject to regulatory compliance and potential penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
* **Action Required:** Ensure adherence to FSSAI standards, respond to notices issued under Section 32 of the Act, and execute investment plans as per the MoU.
**Food Processing Industry**
* **Impact:** Potential for increased investment and development in the food processing sector.
* **Action Required:** No specific action mentioned.
**FSSAI**
* **Impact:** Accountable for regulating compliance and enforcing standards.
* **Action Required:** Continue surveillance, monitoring, and inspection activities. Initiate penal actions where non-compliance is found.
Key Entities Referenced
Patanjali Foods Limited: Company that signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to invest in the food processing sector.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): Agreement signed with Patanjali Foods Limited for promoting investments in the food processing sector.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): Agency responsible for regulating and monitoring food safety standards.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: The government ministry responsible for the food processing sector.
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: Act under which FSSAI operates and enforces food safety standards.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1967
ANSWERED ON 11TH DECEMBER, 2025
MOU WITH PATANJALI FOODS LIMITED
1967. SHRI SUNIL BOSE:
DR. PRASHANT YADAORAO PADOLE:
SHRI G KUMAR NAIK:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government published a call for tenders seeking investments before
signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Patanjali Foods Limited, if so,
the number of proposals received and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) the details of the due diligence process undertaken before signing the investment
agreements;
(c) the manner in which the investments would be utilised; and
(d) whether the Government is aware of the past regulatory violations by Patanjali Foods
Limited, if so, the measures being taken to ensure regulatory compliance and if not, the
reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a) & (b): No tender was issued for the MoUs aimed at promoting investments in the food
processing sector. Based on the investment intent received from Patanjali Foods Limited, a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during World Food India 2025, through
which the company expressed its intent to invest. Under the MoU, the Ministry’s role is to
provide facilitation support to ensure the smooth implementation of the proposed investments.
(c): Patanjali Foods Limited intends to invest Rs.1000 crore (approximately) in food processing
and allied sectors in greenfield as well as brownfield projects in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Orissa as per their internal business plans,
technical specifications, and operational timelines.
(d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science
based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale
and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
FSSAI through State/ UTs and its regional offices conduct regular surveillance,
monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products to verify compliance of the
standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and rules and regulations
made thereunder. In case of compliance failure and where the food samples are found to be
non-conforming, penal action has been initiated against the defaulting Food Business
Operators as per applicable provisions.
Accordingly, notices have been issued to M/s Patanjali Foods Limited under Section 32
of the Act and rules and regulations framed thereunder.
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