Unsafe Foods Pass Quality Checks Every Fourth Time: Emphasizing the Imperative Need for Prioritizing Food Safety Policies

In the bustling landscape of India's food industry, the challenge of food adulteration has emerged as a pressing issue. Over the past decade, between 2014-15 and 2024-25, an average of one in four food samples tested were found non-conforming, with the number increasing from 14,599 to 34,388 during this period.

This alarming statistic underscores the gravity of the situation, making food adulteration a moral and policy imperative. The consequences of consuming unsafe and adulterated food go beyond health risks; they also pose a significant threat to consumer trust.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and state authorities have taken strides to combat this issue. They conduct regular inspections, sampling, and testing of food samples. These tests are carried out in accredited labs, including mobile "Food Safety on Wheels," ensuring widespread coverage.

The penalties levied on default food business operators (FBOs) have also increased significantly. From Rs. 10.93 Crore in 2014-15, the penalties rose to Rs. 76.8 Crore in 2023-24, totaling Rs. 383 Crore over the past decade.

A closer look at the non-conforming samples reveals that nearly half were sub-standard, around 15% were unsafe, and the rest failed due to labelling or other compliance violations. Common examples of food adulteration in India include diluted milk and contaminated spices.

The growth of India's food industry has made ensuring food safety a complex challenge. However, it is a challenge that must be addressed to safeguard the well-being of citizens and uphold the essence of what truly nourishes India.

The data on food contamination in India is largely derived from research conducted by organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and scientific institutions like the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). These institutions study pollution, including microplastics, affecting regions including India.

The FSSAI's annual reports detail the number of samples tested, those found unsafe or substandard, surveillance findings, and the legal actions taken against defaulting food businesses. For those interested in the data, clean, structured, and ready-to-use datasets on food samples tested, non-conforming samples, and penalty cases can be downloaded from Dataful.

It is heartening to note that convictions were obtained in 1.26 Lakh cases out of the 2.4 Lakh cases launched between 2014-15 and 2023-24. This shows that efforts to combat food adulteration are bearing fruit and that India is moving towards a safer, more trustworthy food landscape.

In conclusion, food adulteration in India is a serious public health concern that requires continuous vigilance and action. It is a moral imperative that upholds both the well-being of citizens and the essence of what truly nourishes India.

Unsafe Foods Pass Quality Checks Every Fourth Time: Emphasizing the Imperative Need for Prioritizing Food Safety Policies