**Executive Summary**
This report details the measures implemented by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and State authorities to combat food adulteration between 2022-23 and 2024-25. It highlights the analysis of over 5.18 lakh samples, the implementation of a Risk Based Inspection System, and the expansion of testing infrastructure across 35 States and Union Territories. Key outcomes include the imposition of over 88,000 penalties and the securing of 3,614 convictions to ensure the availability of safe food.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Enforcement and Legal Actions**
* **Sampling and Analysis:** A total of 5,18,559 food samples were analyzed over the last three years (2022–23 to 2024–25).
* **Penalties and Convictions:** Regulatory actions resulted in 88,192 decided cases with penalties, 3,614 convictions, and the cancellation of 1,161 licenses.
* **Targeted Surveillance:** Regular monitoring and random sampling are conducted for high-risk commodities such as milk, ghee, spices, honey, and paneer.
**Inspection and Infrastructure**
* **Risk Based Inspection System (RBIS):** FSSAI implemented a system where inspection frequency is determined by the risk level of food businesses, completing 56,259 such inspections in the last three years.
* **Testing Laboratories:** The regulatory network now includes 252 notified food testing laboratories and 24 referral laboratories for appellate sample analysis.
* **Mobile Testing:** 305 "Food Safety on Wheels" (FSW) mobile laboratories are deployed across 35 States/UTs for immediate, on-spot adulteration testing.
**Regulatory Framework and Assistance**
* **Shared Responsibility:** While FSSAI sets science-based standards, State Food Safety Authorities are primarily responsible for field-level enforcement under the FSS Act, 2006.
* **State Support:** FSSAI provides financial and technical aid to States/UTs for laboratory equipment, capacity building for officers, and consumer grievance redressal.
* **Public Initiatives:** Promotion of programs such as "Eat Right Campus" and "Eat Right School" to enhance food safety awareness.
**Impact Analysis**
**Food Businesses**
**Impact**
Businesses are subject to more frequent, data-driven inspections and stricter compliance requirements. Non-compliance carries high risks of financial penalties, legal convictions, or permanent license cancellation.
**Action Required**
Must strictly adhere to quality and safety parameters defined under the FSS Act, 2006, and ensure all manufacturing and distribution processes meet notified standards.
**State and UT Food Safety Authorities**
**Impact**
These authorities are empowered through FSSAI’s financial assistance and mobile infrastructure to conduct aggressive surveillance and field-level enforcement.
**Action Required**
Designated Officers (DOs) and Food Safety Officers (FSOs) must conduct annual inspections of high-risk food categories and manage the deployment of mobile testing units.
**Consumers**
**Impact**
Consumers benefit from a strengthened food safety ecosystem, improved access to on-spot testing via mobile units, and dedicated grievance redressal mechanisms.
**Action Required**
Can utilize "Food Safety on Wheels" for commodity testing and engage with FSSAI initiatives like "Eat Right" programs to ensure personal food safety.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): The central statutory body mandated to establish science-based food standards and regulate the manufacture, storage, and distribution of food items.
Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006: The primary legislative framework governing food safety and quality standards in India, providing the legal basis for enforcement and penalties.
Food Safety on Wheels (FSW): Mobile food testing laboratories (MFTL) equipped for on-the-spot testing of adulteration in various food commodities across the country.
Risk Based Inspection System (RBIS): A regulatory framework that determines the frequency of food business inspections based on the risk levels associated with different food categories.
State Food Safety Authorities: Regional bodies under the Commissioner of Food Safety responsible for field-level enforcement, surveillance drives, and random sampling.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Steps Taken to Curb Adulteration in Food Items
Over 5.18 Lakh Samples Analyzed in Three Years; 88,192
Penalties Imposed, 3,614 Convictions Secured
FSSAI has developed Risk Based Inspection System where
frequency of inspection is decided based on risk associated
with Food businesses and issued guidelines
FSSAI has notified 252 food testing laboratories for analysis
of food samples and 24 Referral Food Laboratories for the
analysis of appellate samples
305 Food Safety on Wheels deployed across 35 States/UTs
for on spot testing of adulteration in various food
commodities
Posted On: 17 MAR 2026 1:17PM by PIB Delhi
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. The implementation and enforcement of
the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 is a shared responsibility between the Central and State
Governments.
While the FSSAI, is responsible for laying down science-based standards and ensuring overall
coordination, the State Food Safety Authorities are primarily responsible for enforcement at the field level.
Designated officers (DOs) and Food Safety Officers (FSOs) under the Commissioner of Food safety in the
States/UTs are entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing the provisions of FSS Act, 2006.
Surveillance drives, monitoring, regulatory inspection and random sampling of various food products
including milk, ghee, spices, honey, paneer and other foods 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
and Standards Act, 2006, and Regulations made thereunder. Over the last three years (2022–23 to 2024–
25), a total of 5,18,559 samples were analyzed. During this period, 88,192 cases were decided with
penalties, 3,614 cases resulted in convictions, and 1,161 licenses were cancelled.
FSSAI has also developed Risk Based Inspection System (RBIS) where frequency of inspection is decided
based on risk associated with Food businesses and issued guidelines. Annual inspections are to be
conducted for all food categories identified as high risk. Total number of Risk Based Inspections done inlast three years (2022-23 to 2024-25) are 56,259.
FSSAI extends financial and technical assistance to States/UTs for strengthening of food safety
infrastructure in the country. The support includes the following:
• Strengthening Enforcement and Compliance such as Licensing and Registration
• Inspections and Audits, Sampling and Testing of Enforcement and Surveillance
Samples
• Consumer Grievance Redressal
• Capacity Building for Officers.
• Strengthening of Food Testing Ecosystem such as High End/ Basic equipment
for labs
• Promotion of FSSAI initiatives such as Eat Right Campus, Eat Right School
• Flexi Assistance such as Hiring of vehicles for undertaking inspection and
sampling by FSOs and DOs
To strengthen the food regulatory ecosystem in the country, FSSAI has notified 252 food testing
laboratories for analysis of food samples and 24 Referral Food Laboratories for the analysis of appellate
samples. FSSAI has also provided funds for Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (MFTL) referred to as “Food
Safety on wheels” (FSW) to States/UTs. It is an important means to combat adulteration as FSWs are
equipped with basic infrastructure for on spot testing of adulteration in various food commodities.
Currently, 305 FSWs are deployed across 35 States/UTs.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written
reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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SR
HFW/Steps Taken to Curb Adulteration in Food Items/17 March 2026/2
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