Key facts
- India is experiencing an intensified food safety crackdown affecting local eateries and branded restaurants.
- Regulators are pushing for front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods high in sugar, salt, or fat.
- Since 2020, about 20% of over 100,000 food samples tested annually were found unsafe, substandard, or mislabeled.
- Nearly 8,000 food business licenses have been canceled in the past three years.
- A proposed red hexagonal stamp for high-nutrient foods has been made more stringent following activist protests.
- Food safety officials have raided facilities and seized products, including 1,300 kg of adulterated paneer and products with faked expiry dates.
India is currently undergoing a significant food safety enforcement drive, impacting both restaurants and the packaged food industry. Regulators, led by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and state authorities, have intensified inspections, leading to the suspension of operations for numerous eateries and the cancellation of thousands of food business licenses over the past three years. Data shows that approximately one in five food samples tested annually since 2020 have been found to be unsafe, substandard, or improperly labeled.
The crackdown includes high-profile raids, such as the seizure of 1,300 kg of adulterated paneer in Uttar Pradesh, and actions against companies like Diageo and Red Bull for labeling and promotion issues. The FSSAI is also pushing for stricter front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods containing high levels of sugar, salt, or fat, a move that has faced opposition from industry players like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Nestle, who argue the proposed thresholds are too strict and could lead to widespread red warning stamps.
This regulatory push coincides with concerns about rising obesity rates in India, particularly among children. The debate over warning labels has been ongoing for years, but has intensified recently due to pressure from health advocates, social media influencers, and a Supreme Court case. The Supreme Court has questioned the government's delays in adopting these stricter disclosure requirements.
In Maharashtra, food commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has gained public support for his surprise raids on major restaurant chains like Domino's, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's, as well as upscale establishments. His operations have also uncovered instances of faked expiry dates and nutritional information on food products intended for export by major companies including PepsiCo, Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Unilever.