Effectiveness Of FSSAI In Controlling Food Adulteration: A Legal And Practical Analysis
- IJLLR Journal
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Diya Somany & Priyanshi Saraswat, Vivekananda School of Law and Legal Studies, Delhi
ABSTRACT
This research paper conducts in depth analysis on the effectiveness of FSSAI in preventing, prosecuting, and creating awareness on food adulteration in India. Food adulteration continues to be a persistent and multidimensional threat to India's public health, economy, and consumer confidence. Even after the establishment of FSSAI under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, various cases of adulterated food are still surfacing from different parts of the country, which questions the efficacy of the existing legal and institutional mechanisms. It throws light on the historical evolution of food safety laws, the regulatory mechanism under the FSSA, and the operational mechanism of the FSSAI in securing safe food. The study even examines various landmark judicial pronouncements which have shaped the interpretation of food safety laws. Furthermore, it assesses the ground realities such as infrastructural shortcomings, enforcement gaps, among others that act as barriers for effective implementation. Similarly, the paper even elaborates on recent initiatives undertaken by FSSAI such as DART tests, Food Safety on Wheels, and the Food Safety Magic Box to promote consumer participation and rapid detection of adulteration. By integrating statutory analysis with empirical data, this study concludes that while the creation of FSSAI has significantly strengthened the food regulatory landscape in India, but continuous to encounter various institutional bottlenecks. Lastly, the paper recommends strengthening laboratory infrastructure, technological integration, stricter penal enforcement, and enhanced consumer engagement to make India's food safety regime more robust and responsive.
Keywords: Food adulteration, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Food safety regulation, public health, Food quality, Food safety governance.
