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Food Safety Inspections Double to 56,000 as Govt Cracks Down on Adulteration

The Indian government has significantly intensified food safety enforcement, conducting over 56,000 risk-based inspections in the last three years, representing more than 100% growth. This Risk Based Inspection System prioritizes annual checks for high-risk food businesses. Enforcement is bolstered by a network of over 2,900 Food Safety Officers and the deployment of 305 mobile testing labs across states. New regulations also mandate record-keeping for used cooking oil disposal to further protect consumers.

Key Points: Food Safety Inspections Surge Over 100% in 3 Years: Govt

  • 56,000+ risk-based inspections in 3 years
  • 100%+ growth in enforcement checks
  • 305 mobile labs deployed nationwide
  • Mandated tracking of used cooking oil
2 min read

Food safety inspections more than double in 3 years with 56,000 risk-based checks: Govt

Govt reports 56,000+ risk-based food safety checks in 3 years, a 100%+ increase, with new labs and mobile units to combat adulteration.

"more than 56,000 risk-based inspections conducted in the last three years - Government Data"

New Delhi, March 13

The government has stepped up food safety enforcement across the country, with more than 56,000 risk-based inspections conducted in the last three years -- more than 100 per cent growth in the last three years -- to ensure compliance with food safety standards, the Parliament was informed on Friday.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, said the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for laying down science-based standards for food products and regulating their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure safe and wholesome food for consumers.

According to the minister, 26,267 risk-based inspections were conducted in 2024-25 under the Risk Based Inspection System (RBIS), compared with 18,098 in 2023-24 and 11,904 in 2022-23.

The RBIS framework determines the frequency of inspections based on the risk associated with different food businesses, with high-risk food categories required to undergo annual inspections.

However, enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is a shared responsibility between the Centre and the states, with State Food Safety Authorities primarily responsible for field-level implementation.

Currently, 2,997 Food Safety Officers and 668 Designated Officers are working across states and Union Territories to enforce food safety regulations.

The government has also strengthened the food testing ecosystem by notifying 252 food testing laboratories and 24 referral laboratories for the analysis of food samples and appellate testing, according to him.

Moreover, 305 mobile food testing laboratories -- known as "Food Safety on Wheels" -- have been deployed across 35 states and Union Territories to enable on-the-spot testing of food products and help curb adulteration.

FSSAI also mandates annual third-party audits for food business operators holding central licences and has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 to improve transparency and consumer awareness through clear product labelling.

To curb the reuse of cooking oil, the regulator has mandated that food business operators (FBOs) maintain records of used cooking oil (UCO) disposal if edible oil consumption for frying exceeds 50 litres per day, while vegetable oil with Total Polar Compounds exceeding 25 per cent cannot be used.

Consumers can also lodge food safety complaints through the FSSAI grievance portal, email or toll-free helpline, the minister added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Doubling inspections is good news on paper. But the real question is about follow-up and penalties. What happens after an inspection finds violations? Are the fines strong enough to deter big companies? We need transparency in the outcomes.
A
Aditya G
The rule on used cooking oil is long overdue. How many times have we wondered about the oil in our samosas and pakoras from roadside vendors? Strict enforcement here will directly impact public health. Kudos for that.
S
Sarah B
While the increase in numbers is impressive, 3000 officers for the entire country still seems very low. The success of this program depends entirely on the states' commitment. Hope there is proper coordination between central and state authorities.
K
Kavya N
More inspections are welcome, but what about awareness? Many small kirana shop owners and dhaba walas aren't fully aware of FSSAI rules. The government should run massive awareness campaigns in regional languages alongside these checks.
M
Michael C
The risk-based approach makes sense – focus resources where the danger is highest. I'm glad to see a data-driven method being applied. The next step should be making the inspection results public so consumers can make informed choices.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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