Archive · 6 Oct 2026
FSSAI Orders Intensified Festive Food Safety Inspections
People often buy more festive foods during Navratri and Diwali.
India’s food safety regulator, FSSAI, has asked officials to check food more carefully during this time.
They will inspect shops and collect samples, especially in places identified as higher-risk.
Checks may cover sweets, snacks, milk products, cooking oil and other foods.
States can also pay attention to foods that people commonly eat in their region.
Mobile food-testing units may test products in busy marketplaces.
These units can also help teach shoppers about food safety.
Officials must record inspection and enforcement information on online systems in real time.
The aim is to help keep adulterated or unsafe food from being sold.
FSSAI directed food safety authorities in States and Union Territories to step up surveillance, inspections and sampling during Navratri and Diwali.
The directive highlights sweets, snacks and savouries, milk products, edible oil, beverages and ghee amid expected festive demand.
Officials were asked to inspect and collect samples, with particular attention to identified hotspots and sensitive locations.
States may focus on other locally popular foods, including kuttu atta and singhada atta in northern and western regions.
Food Safety on Wheels units may conduct marketplace testing and awareness activities; officials were instructed to update enforcement data on FoSCoS and FoSCoRIS in real time.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India directed food safety authorities across States and Union Territories.
- What
- Authorities were asked to intensify food inspections, surveillance and sampling, and use mobile testing units where available.
- When
- During the upcoming Navratri and Diwali festive season; the directive was dated September 29.
- Where
- Across States and Union Territories, especially at identified hotspots, sensitive locations and prominent marketplaces.
- Why
- To prevent adulterated, counterfeit and unsafe food products from circulating amid increased festive demand.
- Issuing authority
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Directive date
- September 29
- Festive period
- Upcoming Navratri and Diwali season
- Foods highlighted
- Milk and milk products, sweets, snacks and savouries, edible oil, beverages and ghee
- Regional examples
- Kuttu atta and singhada atta in northern and western regions
- Mobile testing
- Food Safety on Wheels units may be deployed at prominent marketplaces or in response to intelligence inputs
- Data reporting
- Inspection, sampling and enforcement data are to be updated in real time on FoSCoS and FoSCoRIS
