Lok Sabha Question No. 2621 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Food Adulteration
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2621 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH AUGUST, 2023

## FOODADULTERATION

## 2621. SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of food adulteration cases in the country during the last 5 years, year-wise;
- (b) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government against entities involved in such cases;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to reduce the incidences of food adulteration in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any steps to improve the consumer awareness with respect to the issue of food adulteration; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): The implementation and enforcement of provisions under Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations, primarily lies with the State/UT Governments. To ensure compliance with these provisions, State/UT Governments take up surveillance, monitoring and inspection activities. Some of the surveillance activities taken by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) are National Milk Survey, Edible Oil Survey, Jaggery Surveilance etc.

Samples of food items are drawn by State Food Safety Officers and sent to the laboratories recognised by FSSAI for analysis. In cases where samples are found to be nonconforming to the provisions of the Act and the Rules and Regulations made, recourse is taken to penal provisions under the FSS Act.

Based on information made available by the States/UTs, details of action taken on nonconfirming food samples during last five years are as below:-

|        |         | No. of Cases Launched   | No. of Cases Launched   |
|--------|---------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| S. No. | Year    | Civil Cases             | Criminal Cases          |
| 1.     | 2018-19 | 18,550                  | 2,813                   |
| 2.     | 2019-20 | 27,412                  | 4,681                   |
| 3.     | 2020-21 | 24,195                  | 3,869                   |
| 4.     | 2021-22 | 28,906                  | 4,946                   |
| 5.     | 2022-23 | 38,053                  | 4,817                   |

(e) & (f) FSSAI has taken many steps to improve consumer awareness with respect to food adulteration. The steps are as follows:

- i. FSSAI has introduced mobile food testing vans called Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) to reach remote areas and conduct training and awareness activities as well. These mobile units are well equipped mobile food testing labs for conducting simple tests for common adulterants in milk, water, edible oil and other items of food of daily consumption.
- ii. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has taken out a manual named DART (Detecting Adulterants with Rapid Testing). This manual is a compilation of some common adulterants and contaminants that can be tested by citizens themselves.
- iii. Awareness through Exhibitions/Melas/Outreach activities at various events like AAHAR International Food & Hospitality Fair/ Indus Food/ India International Trade Fair/ International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit 2022/ Mega Expo & Science Book Fair 2022 etc.
- iv. Food Safety Guidebook for Teachers/Students: The booklet provides with the detailed information of how to conduct the different test on food adulteration.
- v. FSSAI through its social media channel has created a dedicated playlist ' How to check for adulteration'.

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