Strengthening Food Safety Infrastructure in India

Strengthening Food Safety Infrastructure in India

#GS-2 #GS-3 #Governance & Social Justice #Health #Economy #Food Security #National #Food Processing #Government Policies & Interventions

Why in News

  • Recent widespread incidents of food poisoning across India have raised serious concerns about the nation's food safety infrastructure. These events reveal major gaps in enforcing the **Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006** amidst a rise in foodborne deaths.

Challenges in India's Food Safety System

  • According to the **Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) Report 2024**, **1,122 people died due to food poisoning** in India.
  • On a global scale, the **WHO Foodborne Disease Estimates 2026** shows that contaminated food causes **866 million illnesses** and **1.5 million deaths**, with **children under five bearing nearly 30% of the disease burden**.
  • Even though the global burden of foodborne sickness has decreased since 2000, **India ranks 15th worldwide in Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to foodborne diseases**.
  • The **Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)** measures state performance through the **State Food Safety Index**, evaluating metrics like human resources, testing infrastructure, regulatory compliance, training, and consumer awareness.
  • During **2023-24**, almost **75% of States and Union Territories scored below 50 out of 100**, showing widespread weakness in local enforcement.
  • Among the lowest performing states, **Jharkhand** scored **26.5** and **Uttar Pradesh** scored **44.25**, with both regions reporting severe cases of food poisoning deaths in **2024**.
  • Although the **FSS Act, 2006** requires mandatory licensing, regular inspections, and laboratory testing for **Food Business Operators (FBOs)**, actual ground implementation remains poor.
  • The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026, set up a **risk-based inspection framework** to inspect high-risk businesses more frequently based on past compliance.
  • Despite these rules, enforcement is weak. For example, in **Maharashtra**, inspectors collected only about **21,000 food samples** during **2024-25**, even though the state has over **1.8 lakh registered FBOs**.
  • Severe staff shortages affect the system, with **FSSAI** leaving nearly **40% of its central positions vacant**, while states reported over **1,200 sanctioned Food Safety Officer (FSO)** positions unfilled in early **2026**.
  • For instance, **Maharashtra** requires **1,100 food safety officers** but operates with only **130** active field officers.
  • Chemical contamination is a rising danger. The **World Health Organization (WHO)** warned about **heavy metal contamination**, such as **inorganic arsenic** in rice and groundwater and **lead** in spices, grains, and cookware, which cause **chronic diseases and cognitive impairment in children**.
  • Unregulated antibiotic usage in livestock and dairy farming contributes to **Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)**, creating a major public health hazard.
  • Long-term exposure to illegal pesticide residues in fresh farm produce increases the risk of **cancer** and severe **endocrine disorders**.
  • Food adulteration has expanded into a parallel economy, particularly inside the **dairy and edible oil sectors**.
  • Dangerous adulterants like **ethylene glycol-contaminated milk** and fake items like **synthetic milk and fake paneer** present severe hazards to consumer health.
  • Deceptive marketing practices, known as **health-washing**, mislead consumers through exaggerated health claims and falsified nutritional details on packaged goods.
  • During **2025-26**, **FSSAI** penalised multiple brands for illegal health claims, including deceptive uses of **100% Natural** labels and unproven medical cure promises.
  • Rising global temperatures and heatwaves cause rapid food spoilage and bacterial growth, especially in areas lacking proper cold-chain infrastructure.
  • Street food vendors often lack clean water, waste handling facilities, and hygiene training, spreading dangerous pathogens like **Salmonella and E. coli**.

Food Safety Overview

  • Food safety refers to the scientific methods of handling, preparing, and storing food to prevent contamination and foodborne diseases.
  • While food safety prevents accidental physical, biological, or chemical contamination, it links closely with **food defense**, which protects food supplies from intentional harm or tampering.
  • The **Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)** is an apex statutory authority established under the **Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006**, operating under the **Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW)** to regulate food standards and conduct risk assessments.
  • Key programs launched by FSSAI include **Eat Right India**, the **State Food Safety Index**, **RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil)**, and the **Food Safety Mitra Scheme**.
  • State governments enforce the **FSS Act, 2006** locally through Food Safety Commissioners, Designated Officers, and field **Food Safety Officers (FSOs)**.

Way Forward

  • Instead of fixed monetary fines, laws should mandate **turnover-linked penalties** so that large businesses cannot treat penalties merely as an ordinary operational expense.
  • Establishing dedicated district-level **Food Safety Tribunals** will accelerate legal proceedings and relieve pressure on ordinary courts.
  • Installing **IoT** temperature and humidity sensors in commercial cold chain vehicles and warehouses will prevent silent bacterial spoilage during transit.
  • Connecting hygiene compliance directly to micro-credit initiatives like **PM SVANidhi** will encourage street vendors to maintain high safety standards in exchange for lower interest rates.
  • Building an integrated **Farm to Fork** digital portal between **FSSAI** and the Ministry of Agriculture will track pesticide and antibiotic use at the farm level before produce enters factories.
  • Following directions from the Supreme Court, **FSSAI** must introduce high-visibility **Front-of-Pack (FOP)** red, amber, and green color-coded labels to stop health-washing on packaged goods.
  • Launching a public **Food Watch app** will allow citizens to report violations with location tags, automatically sending inspectors to businesses facing repeated complaints.

Conclusion

  • India needs an end-to-end **Farm to Fork** governance framework, modern testing facilities, and strict turnover-linked penalties to curb food poisoning cases effectively.
  • Maintaining high food safety standards is directly linked to reaching international goals under the UN **Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)**, specifically **SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)**, **SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)**, and **SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)**.