India intensifies food safety oversight and adulteration crackdowns

India is undergoing a significant regulatory shift in food safety as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) expands its oversight across the entire supply chain. This includes increased scrutiny of packaged goods, restaurant hygiene, and the role of digital platforms.

In Maharashtra, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has implemented strict new guidelines targeting food adulteration. These measures include a ban on the sale of loose spices, mandatory packaging and labeling, and prohibitions against using harmful artificial colors or unauthorized substances like sawdust and chalk. Recent enforcement actions in the state have led to the suspension of 21 food establishment licenses and the seizure of substandard products.

Nationally, the FSSAI is moving toward stricter enforcement regarding marketing claims and digital storefronts. A Jefferies report indicates that quick-commerce and e-commerce platforms are increasingly viewed as active participants in the supply chain rather than neutral intermediaries, which may require them to display batch numbers and expiry dates directly on apps. The regulator has also proposed front-of-pack warning labels for foods high in sugar, salt, and fat.

Recent enforcement actions include notices issued to the operator of Radisson Blu Hotel in New Delhi for hygiene deficiencies, as well as notices to Flipkart and BigBasket regarding misleading claims for certain edible oils.