Over 7,700 food adulteration complaints received in 2024-25, nearly 6,000 resolved: Govt
New Delhi: More than 7,700 complaints related to food adulteration and food safety were received during the financial year 2024–25, out of which nearly 6,000 have already been resolved, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs B. L. Verma said that complaints related to food safety are registered through the online portal of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
According to official data shared by the government, 4,330 complaints were received in 2022–23, of which 4,074 cases were resolved. In 2023–24, the number of complaints increased to 4,735, with 3,993 complaints addressed. The figure rose significantly in 2024–25, when 7,705 complaints were registered and 5,952 of them were resolved.
These complaints are filed through the Food Safety Connect platform, which operates under the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS). Once a complaint is registered on the portal, it becomes accessible online to the concerned Designated Officers, Food Safety Officers, and food business operators, allowing them to review and take action on the grievance.
The minister explained that regulatory action on such complaints is carried out by the respective state food safety departments in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
He further stated that the food regulator is responsible for establishing science-based standards for food products and regulating their manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure that consumers receive safe and quality food. However, the enforcement of these standards at the ground level is largely handled by state food safety authorities through designated officers and food safety officials.
To maintain compliance with food safety regulations, authorities regularly conduct inspections, sampling, and targeted enforcement drives through regional offices and state agencies. These actions are undertaken as part of initiatives such as the National Annual Surveillance Plan and other monitoring programmes.
In addition, the regulator has implemented a Risk-Based Inspection System, which determines how frequently inspections should be conducted depending on the level of risk associated with different food products.
If any violations of food safety standards are detected during inspections, the concerned food business operators may face regulatory or punitive action under the Food Safety and Standards Act. (With inputs from IANS)
Khushi Chittoria joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Media and Editorial Intern. She holds a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from IP University and has completed certifications in content writing. She has a strong interest in anchoring, content writing, and editing. At Medical Dialogues, Khushi works in the editorial department, web stories and anchoring.