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7,700+ Food Safety Complaints Filed in 2024-25, 6,000 Resolved

The government informed Parliament that over 7,700 complaints regarding food adulteration and safety were received in the 2024-25 fiscal year, with nearly 6,000 of them resolved. The data shows a significant annual increase from 4,330 complaints in 2022-23. Complaints are registered on the Food Safety Connect platform, part of the FoSCoS system, for state-level authorities to act upon. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India sets standards, while enforcement is carried out by state officials through inspections and a new Risk Based Inspection System.

Key Points: 7,705 Food Adulteration Complaints in 2024-25: Govt Data

  • 7,705 complaints in 2024-25
  • 5,952 complaints resolved
  • Complaints rising annually since 2022-23
  • Action via state authorities under FSS Act
2 min read

Over 7,700 food adulteration complaints received in 2024-25, nearly 6,000 resolved: Govt

Govt reports over 7,700 food safety complaints in 2024-25, with nearly 6,000 resolved. Complaints are rising annually on the FoSCoS portal.

"Regulatory action on such complaints is taken by the respective state food safety departments - B. L. Verma"

New Delhi, March 11

More than 7,700 complaints related to food adulteration and safety were received in 2024-25, out of which nearly 6,000 have been resolved, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs B. L. Verma said consumer complaints about food safety are received through the online portal of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

According to the government data, 4,330 complaints were received in 2022-23, out of which 4,074 were resolved.

In 2023-24, the number of complaints increased to 4,735, with 3,993 cases resolved. The figure rose further in 2024-25, when 7,705 complaints were registered and 5,952 of them were addressed.

The complaints are registered on the Food Safety Connect platform, which is part of the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS).

Once a complaint is registered, the concerned Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers as well as food business operators get online access to the grievance, the minister explained.

"Regulatory action on such complaints is taken by the respective state food safety departments in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006," Verma stated.

The minister said the food regulator is responsible for setting science-based standards for food products and regulating their manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure safe food for consumers.

However, enforcement at the ground level is mainly carried out by state food safety authorities through designated officers and food safety officers.

To ensure compliance with food safety standards, the regulator conducts inspections, sampling and targeted enforcement drives through its regional offices and state authorities.

These include activities under the National Annual Surveillance Plan as well as other monitoring initiatives.

The authority has also introduced a Risk Based Inspection System that decides the frequency of inspections based on the level of risk associated with different food products.

If violations of safety standards are found, food business operators may face regulatory or punitive action under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see a system is in place and nearly 6,000 complaints resolved. The FoSCoS portal is a step in the right direction for transparency. But the real test is at the local *kirana* store and street vendors. Hope the state authorities are doing their job properly. 👍
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Aditya G
While I appreciate the effort, resolving 5,952 out of 7,705 means over 1,700 complaints are still pending. That's not a small number. The article says enforcement is with states – maybe some states are slower than others? We need uniform action across India.
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Sarah B
The Risk Based Inspection System sounds like a smart use of resources. Focus on high-risk products like milk, oil, and spices first. My question is about penalties – are they strong enough to deter big companies? Fines are often just a cost of doing business.
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Nikhil C
My mother always says, "We don't know what's in our food anymore." This data proves her point. More awareness is key. Everyone should know about the Food Safety Connect portal. Share it on WhatsApp groups! We have to be proactive as consumers.
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Kavitha C
Respectfully, the numbers tell only half the story. For every complaint registered, there might be a hundred incidents that go unreported because people don't trust the system or find it too cumbersome. The process needs to be simpler for the common person.

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

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