FSSAI orders stricter food inspections ahead of Navratri and Diwali festivals

 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed food safety agencies across states and Union Territories to enhance surveillance, inspections, and sampling to curb the sale of adulterated, counterfeit, and unsafe food products during the upcoming Navratri and Diwali festivals.

According to the food regulator's post on X, increased demand for sweets, snacks, beverages, edible oil, milk and milk products during the festive period necessitates tighter monitoring and enforcement measures.

The FSSAI emphasised the seriousness of the issue and advised state food safety commissioners to ensure designated officers carry out inspections and collect samples, especially in hotspots and sensitive areas.

Special attention is to be given to milk and milk products, sweets, snacks, savouries, edible oils, beverages, and ghee.

States have been asked to identify additional high-demand food items based on regional consumption patterns, such as kuttu atta or singhada atta in northern and western regions.

Moreover, authorities are directed to deployFood Safety on Wheels (FSW) units at major markets and other strategic locations guided by intelligence inputs.

These mobile units will conduct on-the-spot tests, support vigilance, boost consumer awareness, and enhance public confidence in food safety and quality during the festivals.

The FSSAI also mandated officials to update data related to inspections, sampling, and enforcement actions on the FoSCOS and FoSCORIS digital platforms in real-time.