With Holi around the corner, India’s apex food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has instructed all states and union territories (UTs) to conduct an anti-adulteration drive to ensure strict monitoring and enforcement of food safety regulations.
As part of this initiative, FSSAI has asked states and UTs to submit a comprehensive report on enforcement activities by March 31. The report must include details on product names, total samples tested, non-compliant and failed samples, as well as the quantity of adulterated products seized and destroyed.
Holi sees a surge in the demand for sweets, snacks, and dairy products like ghee, khoya, and paneer, especially in North India. This increased demand often leads to the sale of substandard and adulterated food, posing serious health risks. To combat this, FSSAI has launched the “Holi-Anti-Adulteration Drive 2025,” directing enforcement officers to intensify inspections, sampling, and surveillance across their respective regions.
“This drive will ensure proactive enforcement to curb adulteration and safeguard public health,” said Rakesh Kumar, Director (Regulatory Compliance), FSSAI, in an official letter dated February 28. He further emphasized that state and UT authorities have the flexibility to focus on region-specific food items, such as milk-based products in North India and cereal- or rice flour-based sweets in South India.
FSSAI has warned that strict action will be taken against Food Business Operators (FBOs) found violating food safety standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, Rules, and Regulations. In FY2023-24, FSSAI tested 170,513 food samples, of which 33,808 failed to meet standards. This led to 33,750 civil cases and 4,737 criminal cases against defaulting FBOs.
FSSAI is a statutory body under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare responsible for ensuring food safety and quality across India. Consumers can also report food adulteration complaints via the FSSAI helpline or the Food Safety Connect mobile app, further strengthening public participation in food safety enforcement.
