The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed food safety authorities across states and Union territories to intensify inspections and sampling ahead of the festive season to prevent the sale of adulterated, counterfeit and unsafe food products.
The objective is to identify and stop adulterated or unsafe food products before they reach consumers. The regulator’s latest order comes as authorities across the country prepare for the increase in food production, sales and consumption during the festival season. Beyond the food items mentioned, the FSSAI also asks regional agencies to expand the list of targeted commodities as per local eating and consumption patterns.
Earlier reporting noted: As per the directive, heightened inspection and enforcement actions are meant to prevent the circulation of “adulterated, counterfeited and unsafe food products”.
Earlier reporting noted: FSSAI issues order to intensify food safety crackdown across India ahead of festive season to prevent sale of ‘adulterated, unsafe products’ The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a directive to food safety authorities across all states and union territories to step up surveillance and enforcement actions against unsafe food products in light of the upcoming festive season. Earlier reporting noted: The festive season typically brings a spike in demand for multiple food items such as dairy products, sweets, snacks and savouries including Namkeen, papad/fryums, edible oil, beverages, ghee, etc.
The festive season usually sees a sharp increase in demand for sweets, milk and milk products, savouries, namkeen, edible oil, beverages and ghee. Under the directive, state food safety commissioners have been asked to deploy Designated Officers, Food Safety Officers and Central Food Safety Officers for inspections and sampling. The regulator issued the directive on September 29, asking enforcement authorities to treat the matter as a priority as demand for several food products is expected to rise during the upcoming festive period.
