FSSAI crackdown 2026: All you need to know

Across India, stakeholders in the food and beverage industry are on their toes in a scenario that has arrived with little notice. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the government body responsible for regulating the production, distribution, storage and sale of food, has been knocking at the doors of businesses, such as e-commerce platforms, to hold them accountable to the rulebook that defines the quality of food in the country. Its series of crackdowns on warehouses have led to the discovery of glaring violations of hygiene basics and other mandated standards to safeguard the health of consumers.

The raids, led by food safety inspectors, have been relentless and unsparing in going after all kinds of establishments. Here are the most noteworthy actions taken by the authority thus far:

“Repurposed” noodles under scanner

When FSSAI officials raided an instant noodles manufacturer’s facility in Rajasthan, they found broken noodles discarded on the factory floor being repurposed for the making of bhujia, a fried snack. The broken noodles were reportedly not subjected to heat treatments necessary to ensure that they were safe for reuse. In addition to violations of hygiene standards, the FSSAI raid also found evidence that the brand was allegedly producing its bhujia variants without requisite licenses. The inspectors revealed that 1925 boxes of expired goods were found at the factory. The brand has now been prohibited from manufacturing certain snacks.

Asafoetida, only in name

The food regulator issued orders to two leading spice brands, prohibiting them from manufacturing compounded asafoetida—hing as it is commonly known in India—on the grounds that the samples were reportedly ‘sub-standard’ and in contravention of provisions under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Raw hing, on its own, has an overpowering smell and flavour. A pinch of the compounded version, a powdered blend of asafoetida with gum arabic as a binding agent and edible flour to reduce pungency, is suitable for cooking. 

Food safety rules mandate that compounded asafoetida must contain a minimum addition of raw hing to prevent dilution. In the notice issued to one of the brands, the FSSAI said that the presence of Alcohol Soluble Extract was 0% as opposed to the prescribed standard of not less than 5%. The alleged violation in the case of another brand manufacturing asafoetida was that the samples were found to contain ‘excess starch’. 

A ban on analogue paneer?

Analogue paneer, a non-dairy product made using vegetable oils, emulsifiers and starches as substitutes for milk solids, has been the subject of authorities’ and the public’s ire for two years now. Food business operators have been found using this as a replacement for authentic paneer, which is entirely composed of dairy. The practice of using analogue or ‘synthetic’ alternatives, which resembles paneer in its texture and appearance but is nowhere close to its nutritional value, has widely drawn censure for misleading consumers.

On 22 September, the FSSAI issued a draft amendment to the FSS Regulations, 2011 “to restrict manufacturing and sale of analogue product as paneer”. If this regulation comes into force, products which are already licensed under “Analogue in Dairy Context” (they replace milk constituents partly or entirely with non-dairy ingredients) will have to discontinue using the word ‘paneer’ in their labeling and marketing.

No “100%” claims

The Indian consumer is familiar with catchwords such as ‘100% pure’ being liberally used in the advertising of food products. Brands have declared themselves ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ without facing any interrogation of such claims. This has not been the order of the day in recent weeks. The FSSAI issued an order to a major brand demanding the withdrawal of products marketed with ‘misleading 100% claims’. Absolutist assertions of being ‘100% pure’ or ‘100% tender’ cannot be verified and only serve as a bait to draw in buyers, who are led to believe that they are making choices centering their health. 

Also read: Ultra-processed foods are reshaping our diets. Should we be worried?

Front-of-label packaging: look out for red hexagons 

The Supreme Court is presiding over a public interest litigation that demands front-of-pack labelling (FOPL)—prominently displayed labels on the front of food packs, to enable consumers to make informed choices in purchasing packaged food products. 

In an affidavit submitted before the court, the food regulator has proposed displaying a red hexagon with a white background on the front of packaged food containing salt, added sugar, and added fats beyond the recommended levels. Under the proposed system, a product will be obliged to carry this label if any one nutrient of concern exceeds the prescribed limit. The FSSAI has suggested a transition period of one year for brands to bring their packaging protocol in line with the new rules. The court has reserved its verdict on the proposed plan.

Also read: Fine print nation: Do nutrition labels meaningfully inform Indian consumers? 

E-commerce platforms face heat

Five online e-commerce/instant delivery apps have come under the FSSAI’s radar over propagation of “misleading claims”. The action pertained to the display of ‘non-compliant product information’on dates and dairy products. This is not the first time that an e-commerce platform has been at the receiving end of the food regulator’s scrutiny. In July, following several consumer complaints, the FSSAI issued nine notices to a quick commerce app for delivering expired and contaminated food products. According to the food regulator, one complaint pointed out that the app allegedly did not do anything beyond issuing a refund when concerns regarding food quality were raised. 

Curb your (junk) enthusiasm 

The new vigour of enforcing a safer food consumption culture is also making its way to the doorsteps of schools. The FSSAI has proposed the restriction of sales of foods high in salt, sugar and fats within a 50 metre-radius of schools, in a move meant to encourage healthy eating habits among children. If implemented, the rules will not just affect small retailers and food vendors in the vicinity of campuses, but will also impact major brands which produce chips, soft drinks and other junk foods that have a pull on children. The proposal is part of the food regulator’s larger ‘Eat Right’ campaign, aimed at inculcating nutrition-centric consumption behaviour from a young age.

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