7 hrs ago
FSSAI expands crackdown on dark stores, cloud kitchens and labels
India’s food safety regulator is checking more kinds of food businesses.
It will inspect dark stores and cloud kitchens for cleanliness and proper refrigeration.
States have also been asked to watch dairy products more closely before the festival season.
The regulator says some packaged foods used labels or claims that could mislead shoppers.
More than 100 companies have changed their labels.
FSSAI also asked trademark officials not to approve brand names using words such as “healthy.”
Between April and August, officials carried out many inspections, raids and seizures.
More than 600 people were arrested for food-safety violations during the last six months.
FSSAI is expanding inspections to dark stores and cloud kitchens, focusing on hygiene and cold-chain compliance.
The regulator has asked States to increase surveillance of dairy products ahead of the festival season.
FSSAI says more than 100 companies have changed labels after concerns over misleading claims.
The regulator asked trademark authorities not to register marks containing terms such as “healthy.”
From April 1 to August 31, agencies conducted 7.05 lakh inspections and seized food products valued at ₹42.01 crore.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, State food-safety agencies and food business operators are involved.
- What
- FSSAI is widening food-safety enforcement to dark stores, cloud kitchens, dairy products, packaged-food labels and trademarks.
- Where
- Across India, with enforcement conducted by central and State food-safety agencies.
- When
- The enforcement data covers April 1 through August 31; the article was published September 10, 2026.
- Why
- To prevent food-safety violations, improve hygiene and cold-chain compliance, and address misleading food labels and claims.
Food-safety regulator
Food companies
Use of “healthy” in trademarks and labels
Food-safety regulator
FSSAI says terms such as “healthy” should not be registered as trademarks because they may contribute to misleading food claims.
Food companies
Some companies told FSSAI that “healthy” is part of their existing trademark, presenting it as a branding issue rather than solely a labeling claim.
Key facts
- Inspections
- 7.05 lakh conducted across India between April 1 and August 31
- Raids
- 13,203 raids were conducted
- Notices
- 8,151 notices were issued to food business operators
- Licences and registrations
- 677 food licences and 105 food registrations were suspended
- Seizures
- 35.48 lakh kilograms and 86,921 litres of food products were seized
- Seized-product value
- Reported value of ₹42.01 crore
- Arrests
- More than 600 people were arrested over violations in the last six months
Quotes
Rajit Punhani
CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
“We are strongly focusing on dark stores and cloud kitchens to ensure that they comply with hygiene practices and maintain adequate cold-chain infrastructure. In fact, we have called a meeting with States later this month, to discuss issues related to dark stores and cloud kitchens.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“More than 600 people have been arrested in the last six months over violations. Prosecutions are equally important and state officials are being sensitised about speedy disposal of cases.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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