Home / Business and Economy / India's Food Safety Crisis: Outdated Rules, Weak Action
India's Food Safety Crisis: Outdated Rules, Weak Action
22 Jan
Summary
- Over 80% of paneer samples failed safety standards nationwide.
- India lacks food traceability, unlike China's QR code system.
- Low conviction rates and fines limit FSSAI's enforcement impact.
India's food safety standards are lagging, with outdated regulations and inconsistent enforcement by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). A recent nationwide test revealed over 80% of paneer samples failed safety standards, underscoring a lack of traceability in food supply chains. Unlike China's QR code system for high-risk foods, India struggles to trace adulterated products back to their source.
Enforcement in India is often post-market, unlike countries like Indonesia and China which employ pre-market safety checks. India's testing infrastructure is also insufficient, with approximately one enforcement lab for every 30,000 food businesses. This inadequacy makes universal testing unfeasible.
Furthermore, weak penalties and low conviction rates, with only 8,000 convictions from nearly 60,000 violation cases between 2015-16 and 2018-19, diminish the deterrent effect. Consumers are consequently forced to pay a 'trust premium' for branded products, exacerbating information asymmetry and pushing out smaller, honest producers.
Unsafe food costs India an estimated $15 billion annually through healthcare expenses and lost productivity. Strengthening food safety through stricter standards, better labeling, scientific testing, and effective deterrents is crucial for public health, market integrity, and global trade.
