Food Safety

Syllabus Areas:

GS II - Governance

GS III - Economy

India’s food safety landscape has come under sharp scrutiny after multiple high-profile adulteration cases, including the July 2024 Chennai raids on pani puri stalls. These incidents have intensified public concern regarding hygiene in the informal food sector and sparked renewed debate on food regulation.

Rising Concerns Over Food Safety

  • A surge in food adulteration cases in recent years has weakened public trust in everyday food choices.
  • Street food, once celebrated for its cultural richness, is increasingly criticised for unsafe practices.

July 2024 Chennai Incident as a Trigger

  • Raids on 58 pani puri stalls revealed use of contaminated water and poor hygiene.
  • These incidents are not isolated but part of a wider pattern of systemic gaps in the informal food ecosystem.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

FSSAI is the apex statutory body responsible for regulating and supervising food safety in India.
It was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act, 2006), which consolidated multiple food-related laws into one comprehensive framework.

Key Functions

  • Frame food safety standards for manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food.
  • Lay down regulations and guidelines for food businesses across both packaged and unpackaged sectors.
  • Conduct scientific risk assessment to ensure safe and wholesome food.
  • Grant licences and registration to food business operators (FBOs).
  • Monitor and enforce compliance through inspections, sampling, and testing.
  • Promote public awareness through initiatives like Eat Right India, Clean Street Food Hub, and Food Fortification.
  • Coordinate with state food authorities for effective enforcement.

Structure

  • Headed by a Chairperson appointed by the Central Government.
  • The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) oversees day-to-day administration.
  • Operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Significance

  • Ensures uniform food safety standards across India.
  • Builds consumer confidence through labelling norms, hygiene ratings, and food fortification standards.
  • Plays a vital role in public health by reducing food-borne illnesses.
Food Safety

Regulatory Challenges for FSSAI

  • FSSAI monitors safety for both packaged and unpackaged foods.
  • Packaged foods: easier to regulate due to standardised processing, labelling, and traceability.
  • Street vendors: difficult to monitor due to large numbers, informal nature, and lack of consistent compliance.

Why Packaged Foods Inspire Greater Trust

  • Operate under a structured, science-backed regulatory framework.
  • Enforcement spans sourcing, processing, storage, packaging, and distribution.
  • Advanced techniques — pasteurisation, aseptic packaging, vacuum sealing — extend shelf-life and reduce microbial risks.
  • Clear labelling empowers consumers to make informed choices (allergens, ingredients, expiry dates).
  • Industry is evolving toward healthier, fortified, and consumer-driven product lines, responding to rising health awareness.

Street Food: Cultural Significance but Hidden Risks

  • Integral to India’s cultural and economic fabric; supports livelihoods and tourism.
  • Yet, significant public health risks persist due to:
    • Unsafe cooking practices (e.g., repeated reuse of oil forming harmful trans fats).
    • Use of cheap, adulterated raw materials.
    • Poor hygiene and contamination in water or storage.
  • ORF data: 100 million food-borne illnesses annually, 1,20,000 deaths, heavily linked to informal food sources.

Underreporting Masks the True Scale

  • Many food poisoning cases go unreported, especially at the local level.
  • Informal eateries and street vendors significantly contribute to this hidden burden.

Government & FSSAI Initiatives

  • FSSAI initiatives aim to formalise and train street vendors.
  • Example: training programme with BMC in Mumbai focusing on hygiene, safe handling, storage, and waste disposal.
  • Programmes aligned with national movements like:
    • Eat Right India
    • Clean Street Food Hub (CSFH)
  • Progress remains gradual due to the massive, unorganised street food sector.

Way Forward:

  • Packaged foods demonstrate how a structured, science-led system can enhance safety and transparency.
  • Need for similar commitment in the street food ecosystem through:
    • Mass vendor training
    • Hygiene certification
    • Public awareness
    • Stronger regulatory integration
  • Public health must take precedence over sentiment; tradition and safety must coexist.

Prelims Questions:

1. With reference to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), consider the following statements:
  1. It is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
  2. It functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
  3. It is responsible for laying down science-based food safety standards.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
2. Consider the following practices related to India’s informal street food sector:
  1. Reuse of cooking oil
  2. Use of contaminated water
  3. Lack of proper waste disposal
  4. Vacuum sealing and aseptic packaging
Which of the above are commonly associated with food safety risks in street food?
  1. 1, 2 and 3 only
  2. 1 and 4 only
  3. 2 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
3. Which of the following best explains why packaged food is generally considered safer compared to street food in India?
  1. Packaged food is always prepared using natural ingredients.
  2. Packaged food is regulated under a structured framework with clear labelling, traceability, and standardised processing techniques.
  3. Packaged food is exempt from FSSAI regulations.
  4. Street food is banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
4. The Eat Right India movement and Clean Street Food Hub (CSFH) initiatives primarily aim to:
  1. Promote export of Indian processed foods to global markets.
  2. Train and certify street food vendors to improve hygiene standards and food safety practices.
  3. Encourage citizens to shift completely from street food to packaged food.
  4. Replace all informal food vendors with licensed food businesses.