More than 7,700 complaints related to food adulteration and safety were reported in 2024-25, with almost 6,000 of them being resolved, as per information shared in Parliament. Minister of State for Consumer Affairs B. L. Verma disclosed that these complaints are received through the online portal of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. In the preceding years, the number of complaints and resolutions showed variations.
In 2022-23, 4,330 complaints were lodged, out of which 4,074 were successfully addressed. The following year, in 2023-24, the complaints increased to 4,735, with 3,993 cases being resolved. Subsequently, in 2024-25, the figures escalated significantly, with 7,705 complaints registered and 5,952 resolved. The complaints are recorded on the Food Safety Connect platform, which forms part of the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS).
Upon registration, the concerned Designated Officers, Food Safety Officers, and food business operators gain online access to the grievances. Regulatory actions on these complaints are undertaken by the respective state food safety departments in compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as explained by Verma. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is entrusted with establishing science-based standards for food products and overseeing their production, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure consumer safety.
Enforcement activities at the grassroots level are predominantly carried out by state food safety authorities through designated officers and food safety officers. The regulator conducts inspections, sampling, and targeted enforcement drives through its regional offices and state bodies to ensure compliance with food safety standards. It has introduced a Risk-Based Inspection System to determine inspection frequencies based on the risk levels associated with different food items. Violations of safety standards may lead to regulatory or punitive actions against food business operators under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
