It’s not a simple question to ask who is responsible for keeping food safe in India. FSSAI sets the “rules of the road”, but the states are the ones doing the “policing” day to day. This division is being looked at carefully now, as people are wondering how unsafe food is still getting to them.
India’s dual model for food safety oversight
India’s system, based on the Food Safety and Standards Act of and 2006, puts FSSAI in the top position. FSSAI creates standards, makes regulations, and decides what the overall strategy should be. They also manage checking food, give instructions, and encourage states to follow the country’s main goals.
However, most of the actual enforcing of the rules is done by the food safety departments in each state. Almost 98% of food businesses are under the control of the states. This means state and district level officials, not the central government (FSSAI), are mainly responsible for issuing licenses, checking food, taking samples, and issuing penalties.
The reason for this is simply the number of businesses and the size of India. With so many businesses spread over such a large area, it makes sense for people in the area to check kitchens, test food, and respond to complaints. But this distribution also makes it harder to determine who is responsible when something goes wrong.
Debate over accountability and lessons from past flashpoints
Each time there is a problem, the question of responsibility comes up again. Problems with instant noodles, baby food, and spices have shown weaknesses in the whole system. People who criticize the system say that FSSAI, as the main organization, shouldn’t act as if it has nothing to do with how well the standards are being followed in practice.
Those who support the current system point out that the law clearly says the states are the first ones to enforce the rules. Even they will admit, though, that sometimes problems are caused by both a lack of enforcement and flaws in the standards themselves. Poor monitoring of food, slow testing of samples, and not communicating risks clearly can make problems in a specific area even worse.
When something goes wrong, the central government has often made the rules stricter or clarified how to test food. This shows the important fact that even when the states are in charge of enforcing the rules, FSSAI is still responsible for the system as a whole being sound and trustworthy.
Enforcement ramps up in FY 2025-26
Recent information shows that enforcement is becoming stricter. Officials have carried out 397,009 inspections of places that sell food. By the third quarter of the year, they had tested 165,747 food samples and 17.16% of them didn’t meet the required standards. As a result of this, penalties were given, food was recalled, or people were prosecuted.
Cases are also moving through the legal system. Officials have made decisions in 23,580 cases and have gotten 1,756 criminal convictions. Financial penalties have come to Rs 154.87 crore. These numbers suggest states are being more serious about making sure businesses follow the rules and discouraging them from breaking them.
Another sign of this is the increase in food recalls. Authorities have recalled 945 food items in the past year to keep unsafe food from reaching consumers. Recalls show that risks are being managed proactively and that it is easier to trace food as it moves through the supply chain.
How enforcement works on the ground
The Food Safety Commissioners in each state are in charge of planning, overseeing investigations, and coordinating responses to emergencies. They also advise district teams on what to watch out for and what the specific risks are in areas like dairy, meat, and processed foods.
Designated Officers at the district level give out licenses, review how well businesses are following the rules, and manage the process of making decisions. They work closely with Food Safety Officers who check businesses, get samples of food, and investigate complaints from customers or other businesses.
For minor violations of the rules, Additional District Magistrates act as Adjudicating Officers. Special Courts, Magistrate Courts, and Food Safety Appellate Tribunals offer a way to challenge tougher cases in court, making sure that penalties and convictions are fair.
Bringing the informal sector into the net and upgrading labs
A significant change is happening at the local level. Over 10 lakh (one million) street food vendors have been brought into the regulatory system. Training, registering, and checking for cleanliness are making food safer for consumers who are most likely to buy from street vendors.
Licensing has been made simpler to match the size of the business. A basic registration now includes businesses with sales up to Rs 1.5 crore. State licenses are needed for businesses with sales from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 50 crore, and central licenses are required for businesses with sales over Rs 50 crore. The goal is to make it easier to comply with the rules and to focus more closely on important issues.
The ability to test food is also getting better. FSSAI has approved 18 laboratories, including modern facilities in Singtam and Tirumala. With better ways to test for germs and harmful substances, authorities can find problems more quickly and act before the risks spread.
Shared responsibility and what comes next
The current system is set up to be collaborative. FSSAI sets the standards and makes the system stronger. The states do the inspections, sampling, and enforcement. This division shouldn’t hide who is responsible. When something goes wrong, both levels of government must take responsibility for the results and fix what caused the problem.
For businesses, the message is clear: know what kind of license you need, have strong testing of your own products, and keep careful track of your ingredients. Be ready to recall products and have records to show that you are controlling the risks associated with your products and how they are made. Following the rules is now more and more about using data and being open about it.
For consumers, being careful is important. Check the FSSAI license number on labels and receipts. Quickly report anything you suspect is wrong. As enforcement gets stricter and labs get better at testing, what consumers say can speed up corrections and increase trust in the system.
In the end, who is responsible for food safety in India? The law divides the work, but the responsibility is shared. FSSAI can’t ignore problems, and the states can’t delay enforcement. Only consistent standards, thorough inspections, and open action will make food safety worthy of the public’s trust.
