India claims comprehensive food safety laws; however, their effectiveness is compromised due to negligent enforcement and infrequent updates to align with global standards.
The recent controversies surrounding the Indian food industry, particularly the packaged food sector, underscore this issue. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs recently urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to take action against Nestle following a report by Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). The report revealed high levels of added sugar in Nestle’s baby food brands marketed in low- and middle-income countries, including India, compared to similar products in Europe.
Additionally, British multinational company Cadbury faced scrutiny over the high sugar content in Bournvita, labelled as healthy for child growth. The Ministry of Commerce intervened by advising e-commerce platforms to reclassify such products.
Indian spice brands MDH Pvt. and Everest Food Products Pvt. came under scrutiny after Hong Kong and Singapore banned certain products allegedly containing excessive levels of a cancer-causing pesticide. These incidents highlight the need for rigorous quality checks by FSSAI.
Experts unanimously point to the lack of clear and up-to-date food safety standards as a key factor contributing to these incidents. It is obvious that FSSAI’s decade-long lapse in revising safety standards is complicating efforts to hold violators accountable.
Despite these concerns, the FSSAI has yet to address inquiries on these matters, indicating a need for greater transparency and proactive measures to safeguard public health.