Lok Sabha Question No. 1937 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-06
Subject: Setting up of Food Laboratories
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sribharat Mathukumilli

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1937 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH DECEMBER, 2024

## SETTING UPOF FOOD LABORATORIES

## 1937. SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of samples analyzed under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) during the last five years, year-wise ;
- (b) the number of samples that were found non-conforming to FSSAI standards during the said period;
- (c) the number of food quality monitoring and testing laboratories operating in both Government and private sectors, State/UT-wise;
- (d) the details of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the State of Andhra Pradesh and FSSAI for food safety;
- (e) the amount of funds sanctioned and locations identified to set up State Food Laboratories in Andhra Pradesh; and
- (f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to raise awareness on food safety aspects among consumers, the food industry and farmers across the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) & (b): The number of samples analyzed and samples found non-conforming during enforcement of various Food Safety and Standards Regulations for the last four years are as below:

|   S.No | Year    |   No of Samples Analysed |   No of Samples found non- conforming |
|--------|---------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|      1 | 2020-21 |                   107829 |                                 28347 |

|   2 | 2021-22   |   144345 |   32934 |
|-----|-----------|----------|---------|
|   3 | 2022-23   |   177511 |   44626 |
|   4 | 2023-24   |   170513 |   33808 |

(c ): State-wise number of Food Testing Laboratories in the Country is at Annexure .

- (d) & (e): Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Andhra Pradesh in 2022-23, which was further extended to 2023-24 and subsequently to 2024-25. The objectives of the MoU are:
- (i) Strengthening of enforcement and compliance system
- (ii) Strengthening of food safety system
- (iii) Implementation of various initiatives under the Eat Right movement
- (iv) Any other matter consequential to ensuring food safety

The locations identified for setting up of State Food Testing Laboratories in Andhra Pradesh are Guntur, Tirupati, Vishakhapatnam, Kurnool, Tirumala, Elluru and Ongole. Total funds released to set up State Food Testing Laboratories in Financial Year 23-24 is Rs 53.22 Crores.

- (f): FSSAI has implemented several initiatives to raise awareness about food safety among consumers, the food industry, and citizens. The initiatives are as follows:
- i. Public awareness campaigns like Aaj Se Thoda Kam , which encourages reducing salt, sugar, and fat in diets, and the Trans-Fat Free India@75 initiative to eliminate trans fats have been instrumental.
- ii. Social media campaigns such as Monday Motivation , Recipe Ravivaar, Know Your Food Labels , Adulteration Awareness , and the Myth Busters series further educate consumers on safe food practices and empower them to make informed choices.
- iii. Resources like the DART Book offer simple tests for detecting food adulterants at home.
- iv. Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs) or mobile food testing laboratories are deployed to reach remote areas and for conducting food testing and raising awareness.
- v. For the food industry, FSSAI's Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program ensures the presence of trained Food Safety Supervisors at food business premises. These training programmes are in food safety and standards for persons who
- are or intend to become involved in food businesses, whether as food business operators or employees or otherwise.
- vi. Certification programs such as Eat Right Campus, Eat Right Schools, Eat Right Street Food Hubs , Eat Right Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Markets , Eat Right Place of Worships for places of worship, and the Hygiene Rating Scheme encourage better hygiene and self compliance to the food safety standards.
- vii. Sustainability efforts like Jaivik Bharat for organic food certification and the RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) initiative, which repurposes used cooking oil, promote safe and sustainable practices within the industry.
- viii.Public awareness campaigns have been a cornerstone of the Government's efforts to promote food safety and healthy eating practices. As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav , Walkathons and Melas were conducted in 122 cities, engaging communities in celebrating and understanding the importance of safe and sustainable food practices.
- ix. Competitions such as the Eat Right Creativity Challenge , Eat Right Challenge for Cities and Districts which saw participation from each districts of the country raises awareness amongst the citizens on food safety , and the Eat Smart Cities Challenge have further motivated citizens and local bodies to actively participate in fostering a culture of healthy eating and food safety.
- x. Further, FSSAI has focused on promoting nutri-cereals like millets as part of the International Year of Millets campaign . Events such as Eat Right Millet Melas help connect consumers while raising awareness about the nutritional and economic benefits of these grains.
- xi. The Government has effectively leveraged a wide range of platforms to disseminate key messages about food safety, healthy diets, and sustainability. Social media channels have been extensively utilized alongside public communication mediums such as Doordarshan channels like DD News, DD Kisaan, All India Radio, and banners on food safety displayed on the IRCTC website and mobile app. Furthermore, dedicated campaigns have been rolled out on FM radio channels and at Railway stations, ensuring that these important messages reach a broad and diverse audience across the country.

******

## Annexure

| No. of Primary labs notified by FSSAI u/s 43 (1), FSSA2006   | No. of Primary labs notified by FSSAI u/s 43 (1), FSSA2006   | No. of Primary labs notified by FSSAI u/s 43 (1), FSSA2006   | No. of Primary labs notified by FSSAI u/s 43 (1), FSSA2006   | No. of Primary labs notified by FSSAI u/s 43 (1), FSSA2006   | No. of Primary labs notified by FSSAI u/s 43 (1), FSSA2006   | No. of Primary labs notified by FSSAI u/s 43 (1), FSSA2006   | No. of Referral labs notified by FSSAI u/s 43 (2), FSSA2006   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl.N o                                                       | STATES                                                       | State Governm ent Owned Labs                                 | FSSAI Owned Labs                                             | FSSAI Owned and Run on PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode | Labs owned by Government Institutions (Other than FSSAI)     | Private Owned Labs                                           | Referral labs (All Governmen t Owned Labs)                    |
| 1                                                            | Andhra Pradesh                                               | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 4                                                            | 1                                                             |
| 2                                                            | Andman & Nicorbar Islands                                    | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 3                                                            | Arunachal Pradesh                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 4                                                            | Assam                                                        | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 5                                                            | Bihar                                                        | 1                                                            | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 6                                                            | Chandigarh                                                   | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 7                                                            | Chhattisgarh                                                 | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 8                                                            | Dadar Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 9                                                            | GNCTof Delhi                                                 | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 17                                                           | 0                                                             |
| 10                                                           | Goa                                                          | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 11                                                           | Gujarat                                                      | 6                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 3                                                            | 10                                                           | 1                                                             |
| 12                                                           | Haryana                                                      | 2                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 15                                                           | 2                                                             |
| 13                                                           | Himachal Pradesh                                             | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 14                                                           | Jammu &Kashmir                                               | 2                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 15                                                           | Jharkhand                                                    | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 16                                                           | Karnataka                                                    | 3                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 17                                                           | 2                                                             |
| 17                                                           | Kerala                                                       | 3                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 6                                                            | 6                                                            | 2                                                             |
| 18                                                           | Ladakh                                                       | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 19                                                           | Lakshadweep                                                  | 0 1                                                          | 0 0                                                          | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 20                                                           | Madhya Pradesh                                               |                                                              |                                                              | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 8                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 21                                                           | Maharashtra                                                  | 5                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 1                                                            | 25                                                           | 4                                                             |
| 22                                                           | Manipur                                                      | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 23                                                           | Meghalaya                                                    | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0 0                                                          | 0 0                                                          | 0 0                                                           |
| 24 25                                                        | Mizoram Nagaland                                             | 0 1                                                          | 0 0                                                          | 0 0                                                          | 0 0                                                          | 0 1                                                          | 0 0                                                           |
| 26 27                                                        | Odisha                                                       |                                                              |                                                              | 0                                                            |                                                              | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
|                                                              |                                                              | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            |                                                              |                                                              |                                                               |
|                                                              | Puducherry                                                   | 0                                                            | 0                                                            |                                                              | 0                                                            |                                                              |                                                               |
| 28                                                           | Punjab                                                       | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 2                                                            | 1                                                             |
| 29                                                           | Rajasthan                                                    | 10                                                           | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 6                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 30                                                           | Sikkim                                                       | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 31                                                           | Tamil Nadu                                                   | 6                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 1                                                            | 17                                                           | 3                                                             |
| 32                                                           | Telangana                                                    | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 9                                                            | 3                                                             |
| 33 34                                                        | Tripura Uttar Pradesh                                        | 1 6                                                          | 0 0                                                          | 0 1                                                          | 1 3                                                          | 0 5                                                          | 0 2                                                           |
|                                                              | West Bengal                                                  |                                                              | 1                                                            |                                                              |                                                              |                                                              |                                                               |
| 35                                                           | Uttarakhand                                                  | 1                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 0                                                            | 1                                                            | 0                                                             |
| 36                                                           |                                                              | 2                                                            |                                                              | 0                                                            | 3                                                            | 4                                                            | 1                                                             |
| Total                                                        | Total                                                        | 61                                                           | 2                                                            | 3                                                            | 25 242                                                       | 151                                                          | 22                                                            |