FSSAI Orders On-Spot Testing Drives to Curb Food Adulteration Ahead of Navratri & Diwali

With India getting ready for the festival season, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued directions to the states and UTs to carry out aggressive food testing drives in order to avoid any sort of food adulteration before the festivals of Navratri and Diwali.

The national-level exercise will help to ensure that some of the frequently used food products like milk, ghee, paneer, khoya, sweets, edible oils, spices and dry fruits comply with the food safety standards. 

The campaign is being initiated at a time when there is a sudden surge in the demand for dairy products and sweets.

What Will the On-Spot Testing Drive Include?

As part of the FSSAI food adulteration drive, food safety officials will carry out unscheduled inspections in sweet shops, dairy plants, wholesale markets, food processing units, and retail stores.

Mobile food testing laboratories, which are popularly referred to as ‘Food Safety on Wheels’ (FSW), may be employed in order to undertake on-the-spot quality tests of the food products.

Food samples will be collected for analysis as part of the tests conducted. Those companies found flouting food safety standards may be penalized or sued under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Why is FSSAI Conducting These Checks Before Navratri and Diwali?

During such times, there is a high intake of foods like sweets, milk products, oil, and fasting foods. In order to make maximum profits, artificial colors, fake milk, starch, detergents, poor-quality oil, or other adulterants may be used.

In view of the above FSSAI food adulteration drive, the regulatory body intends to keep consumers healthy and improve their confidence regarding the safety of festive foods available in the market.

How Can Consumers Stay Safe?

FSSAI recommends that consumers should buy food products only from authorized sellers, look for manufacturing and expiry date, see FSSAI license information in food packaging and also not go for very cheap products, which might affect the quality of food. Consumers can lodge complaints regarding food adulteration via Food Safety Connect application or by communicating with food safety department of their respective states.

Conclusion

The FSSAI food adulteration drive demonstrates the proactiveness of the organization in protecting the food quality during the busiest festive period of India. With stricter inspection, fast on-site tests and stringent enforcement, the drive seeks to minimize the food adulteration and ensure safe celebration of Navratri and Diwali by consumers.

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