In a decisive move to safeguard public health, India's top food regulator has launched a sweeping nationwide enforcement drive. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all states and Union territories to immediately intensify action against the adulteration and misbranding of milk and critical dairy products like paneer and khoya.
Nationwide Inspections Ordered to Curb Food Fraud
The directive, issued under Section 16(5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, comes in response to persistent reports of fake and substandard dairy items flooding the market. FSSAI has highlighted that these products, often linked to illegal and unlicensed operators, pose severe health risks. Misrepresenting adulterated or synthetic analogue products as genuine dairy is a blatant violation of the law.
State Food Safety Departments and FSSAI's regional offices have been instructed to ramp up surveillance across the entire dairy supply chain. This includes production units, storage facilities, and points of sale. Food Safety Officers will collect samples, verify licenses, and investigate supply chains thoroughly.
Traceability and Strict Penalties for Violators
Where samples fail to meet standards or suspicious patterns emerge, authorities must conduct traceability exercises. The goal is to pinpoint the source and dismantle the networks behind these illegal operations. The crackdown promises zero tolerance for offenders.
Violations will attract severe consequences, including:
- Seizure of unsafe food products.
- Immediate closure of illegal manufacturing units.
- Suspension or cancellation of food business licenses.
- Mandatory recall and destruction of adulterated stock.
All enforcement actions must be logged in real-time on the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) for central monitoring. FSSAI has also called for stronger inter-state coordination to block the cross-border movement of tainted dairy goods, with Commissioners of Food Safety and Regional Directors asked to personally oversee the drive's implementation.
Restaurants and Hotels Put on Notice
In a move that directly impacts consumers, state regulators have a specific mandate. They must sensitize hotels, restaurants, caterers, quick-service outlets, and even pubs. These establishments are being warned sternly against procuring or using adulterated paneer. Liability will extend to food service providers, and any violation will invite punitive action.
Officials state the overarching aim of this massive drive is to protect consumers, curb rampant food fraud, and restore trust in daily staples like milk and paneer. The message is clear: dairy safety is a non-negotiable public health priority for the nation.
