Lok Sabha Question No. 2169 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Food Adulteration
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar, Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2169

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## FOOD ADULTERATION

2169.  SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI: SHRI VIVEK NARAYAN SHEJWALKAR:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of food adulteration cases in the country in the last five years;
- (b) the number of entities against whom action was taken for food adulteration;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps/  issued  any  directions  to  reduce  the  incidence  of  food adulteration in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  improve  consumer  awareness  with  respect  to  food adulteration; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ( श्री अश्विनी कु मार चौबे )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b) : Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) through States/UTs and its regional offices conducts regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products to check compliance of the standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. In cases where the food samples are found to be non-conforming, penal action is initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per provisions of FSS Act, Rules and Regulations made thereunder.

Based  on  information  made  available  by  the  States/UTs,  details  of  various  kinds  of  food  samples collected, analyzed, found non-conforming and action taken in the last five years is annexed.

(c) & (d)  : FSSAI has developed a pan-India surveillance system that helps to collect the data regarding the safety and quality of food and to ensure that the food supplied in the market is safe and wholesome. The aim of such surveillance activities to identify hotspots of food safety non-compliances and adulteration.

FSSAI carried out surveillance activities pan-India of various commodities as under:

1. National Milk Survey 2016.
2. National Milk Quality Survey 2018.
3. Milk and Milk Products Survey 2020.
4. Edible Oils Survey 2020.
5. PAN India Food Survey 2021 - For Trans-fat & Acrylamide Content.
6. National Milk Survey 2022.
7. Jaggery Surveillance 2022.

In  the  said  surveys  the  possible  adulterants  in  the  commodity  were  tested  and  reported.  In  all  the surveillance activities, efforts were made to ascertain the degree of adulteration to identify hotspots (regions) predominant  in food adulteration, in addition to ensuring compliance  with the quality &  safety parameters.   Post  pan-India  Surveillance  activities,  the  State  wise  non-compliance  data  are  shared  with concerned States/UT's to initiate the regulatory sampling and taken penal action, wherever necessary. The reports of such surveillance activities are available in the public domain, www.fssai.gov.in.

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

- (i) FSSAI through its YouTube channel has created a dedicated playlist How to check for adulteration containing 76 short videos for checking adulteration. These videos are being uploaded on Social Media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) on regular basis.
- (ii) FSSAI 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. It covers common adulterants in food products such as Oils & Fats, Sweetening Agents, Food Grains & their products, Pulses, Spices, Salt, Tea, Coffee, artificial and toxic colours, extraneous matters in food, added deliberately or otherwise. The scope and main aim of this manual is to create awareness in consumers about food adulteration detection methodology for use at household level too. This has been disseminated through social media and uploaded on the FSSAI website also for general information of the public.
- (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. Stall have been placed in these exhibitions where awareness through live demonstration of detecting adulteration through Magic Box was put into display for general public.
- (iv) Food Safety On Wheels (FSW): 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. These FSWs are placed in different Exhibitions.
- (v) Food Safety Guidebook for Teachers/Students: The lesson plan booklet provides with the detailed information of how to conduct the different test on food adulteration. These tests are mapped across the curriculum of the particular grade. These lesson plans are effective way to enhance the students learning.    These  books  are  available  for  free  in  eBook  format  and  can  be  easily  downloaded  at https://eatrightindia.gov.in/eatrightschool/learning-books .

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Details of various kinds of food samples collected, analyzed, found non-conforming and action taken in the last five years:

| Year    | No. of Samples Analysed   | No. of Samples found non- conforming   | Civil Cases           | Civil Cases          | Civil Cases        | Criminal Cases        | Criminal Cases       | Criminal Cases     |
|---------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------|--------------------|-----------------------|----------------------|--------------------|
| Year    | No. of Samples Analysed   | No. of Samples found non- conforming   | No. of Cases launched | No. of Cases decided | No. of Convictions | No. of Cases Launched | No. of Cases decided | No. of Convictions |
| 2018-19 | 1,06,459                  | 30,415                                 | 18,550                | NA                   | 12,734             | 2,813                 | NA                   | 701                |
| 2019-20 | 1,18,775                  | 29,589                                 | 27,412                | 18,192               | 17,345             | 4681                  | 828                  | 780                |
| 2020-21 | 1,07,829                  | 28347                                  | 24,195                | 15,878               | 14,817             | 3869                  | 520                  | 506                |
| 2021-22 | 1,44,345                  | 32,934                                 | 28,906                | NA                   | 19,437             | 4,946                 | NA                   | 671                |
| 2022-23 | 1,72,687                  | 44,421                                 | 38,053                | NA                   | 27,053             | 4,817                 | NA                   | 1133               |

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