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Food samples fail to meet safety , quality standards
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Monday, 10 August, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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Enforcement actions by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) revealed that nearly one in every five food samples tested across the country during the 2025–26 financial year failed to meet safety and quality standards.
According to statutory data provided by the food regulator, out of 2,23,808 food samples analysed in FY 2025–26, a total of 40,023 were declared “non-conforming”, comprising 9,086 unsafe samples, 26,754 substandard samples, and 4,225 samples with labelling defects, misleading claims, or miscellaneous infractions.
The provisional figures highlight a sharp, multi-year escalation in food safety enforcement across India:
FY 2025–26 (provisional until March 31, 2026): 2,23,808 samples analysed, 40,023 non-conforming, 31,878 civil penalties (Rs 109.11 crore) with 1,918 criminal convictions and Rs 5.70 crore criminal penalties.
FY 2024–25: 1,70,535 samples analysed, 34,388 non-conforming, 30,142 civil penalties (Rs 35.74 crore), 1,265 criminal convictions (Rs 3.03 crore)
FY 2023–24: 1,70,513 samples analysed, 33,808 non-conforming, 29,586 civil penalties (Rs 74.12 crore) and 1,161 criminal convictions (Rs 2.67 crore)
FY 2022–23: 1,77,511 samples analysed, 44,626 non-conforming, 28,464 civil penalties (Rs 33.23 crore) | 1,188 criminal convictions (Rs 2.75 crore)
Meanwhile, the regulator has significantly tightened oversight on digital food platforms following a rise in consumer complaints regarding contaminated, expired, spoiled, or rotten food deliveries.
Under FSSAI guidelines, e-commerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) are mandated to list only verified, licensed sellers, enforce front-of-pack display labelling, ensure minimum shelf life, train delivery personnel, maintain strict hygiene standards under Schedule 4 of the Licensing Regulations, and immediately delist non-compliant merchants.
Reiterating these responsibilities through statutory advisories issued on December 3, 2024, and July 23, 2026, the national food regulator directed digital aggregators to execute immediate corrective measures or face punitive measures under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
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