Raids, licence cancellations and proposed warning labels signal a tougher regulatory push as food safety comes under growing public scrutiny
New Delhi, September 8: India is witnessing an intensified food safety enforcement drive, with regulators stepping up inspections, shutting non-compliant establishments and examining labelling practices across restaurants, food businesses and packaged products.
The crackdown comes amid long-standing concerns over hygiene at restaurants, cafes and street-food outlets, as well as recurring reports of food adulteration that often gain traction on social media.
Government data cited in the Reuters report shows that food inspectors have tested more than 100,000 samples annually since 2020, with about one in five classified as unsafe, substandard or inadequately labelled. Nearly 8,000 food business licences have also been cancelled over the past three years.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and state regulators have increasingly publicised enforcement operations, including raids and seizures. In one recent operation in Uttar Pradesh, officials seized about 1,300 kg of adulterated paneer from an unhygienic facility.
Maharashtra food commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has emerged as one of the most visible faces of the enforcement campaign, with surprise inspections targeting restaurants and food outlets, including major international chains.
A recent raid on a warehouse in Maharashtra also uncovered alleged manipulation of expiry dates and nutritional information on products made by major companies for export, according to Reuters.
At the same time, India is debating tougher front-of-pack warning labels for foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. FSSAI has proposed a red hexagonal symbol for products exceeding prescribed levels in at least two of these nutrients.
The proposal has drawn criticism from both sides. Food companies argue that the proposed limits could place warning labels on a large proportion of packaged products, while health advocates say the two-nutrient threshold is too lenient.
With enforcement and labelling reforms advancing simultaneously, food safety is emerging as a major regulatory and consumer issue in India.
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