India Steps Up Food Safety Crackdown Amid Widespread Hygiene Problems
India's Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is cracking down on food safety regulations, conducting raids and inspections across the country. Since 2020, inspectors have tested over 100,000 food samples each year, with one in five found to be unsafe or lacking proper labeling.
The campaign has also reached food warehouses, with Maharashtra authorities suspending permits at 12 quick-commerce warehouses operated by Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy's Instamart after finding hygiene problems such as cockroaches and rodent droppings.
Regulators are not only focusing on physical hygiene but also examining labeling and adulteration. In Uttar Pradesh, FSSAI recently seized 1,300 kilograms of adulterated paneer from an unhygienic facility, while in Mumbai, inspectors found falsified expiry dates and nutritional information on products manufactured by PepsiCo, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Unilever.
The proposed front-of-pack warning system has been met with opposition from both food companies and public health advocates. Food companies argue that the proposed thresholds are too strict, while public health advocates say the proposal is too weak and does not go far enough in warning consumers about nutrient-rich products.