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India’s F&B sector works towards regulatory overhaul to elevate food safety stds
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Saturday, 21 June, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
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India’s food and beverage (F&B) industry is undergoing a significant transformation to improve food safety standards, in alignment with updated regulatory norms issued by the Union Government. New norms target areas like front-of-pack labelling (FoPL), trans fat limits, and mandatory registration and licensing for food business operators (FBOs).
This was highlighted at a daylong event titled India Food Safety Conclave 2025 organised by the Food Safety Works focused on food safety in e-commerce, testing, verification and validation, sustaining food safety culture and technology for food safety.
Food safety is not just a destination but an ongoing journey, said V.K. Pancham, Director, Southern Region, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), highlighting the critical importance of ensuring safe and nutritious food for all.
He emphasised that maintaining food safety is a shared responsibility that requires continuous vigilance, industry cooperation, and public awareness.
Underscoring the link between diet and public health, Pancham pointed out the growing need to discourage the consumption of junk foods, especially among children and youth. He stressed the role of balanced, wholesome meals in preventing lifestyle-related diseases and improving overall well-being.
To this end, FSSAI has called for the systematic upgrading of food vendors, especially in the unorganised and street food sectors, to ensure basic hygiene and safety standards are consistently maintained. Through initiatives like the ‘Clean Street Food Hub’ certification and training under the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) programme, the authority aims to empower vendors with the knowledge and tools to provide safe, hygienic, and nutritious food, stated Pancham.
FSSAI has issued 22 comprehensive regulations to ensure consistency and compliance. We are keen to ensure that every meal served whether at home, in restaurants, on the streets, or in institutions is safe, hygienic, and nutritious. The authority’s goal is not only to enforce food safety laws but also to promote a culture of preventive care, where food safety becomes a fundamental expectation across all sectors of society, according to Pancham.
Through continuous updates to its regulatory framework and initiatives like Eat Right India, FSSAI is striving to make safe and healthy food a norm rather than an exception. The focus is not just on regulatory enforcement but on capacity building, public education, and collaborative efforts with state governments and industry partners. These steps are seen as essential in fostering a safe food culture, reducing foodborne illnesses, and enhancing consumer trust in the quality of food available in public spaces.
The need of the hour is to build a culture of food safety across India through policy, education, and stakeholder engagement promoting not only regulatory compliance but also a healthier food environment.
Kamesh Ellajosyula, chief innovation & quality officer, Olam Food Ingredients (OFI), speaking on tech-enabled quality food safety noted that food safety starts at the farm which is the most fundamental and crucial aspect. We are seeing technology is driving change and food safety is enabling a competitive edge in the market.
Regulatory compliance is a proactive engagement driven by robust data alignment across stakeholders. As food safety professionals, it is imperative that we continuously upgrade our knowledge, systems, and practices in alignment with the evolving regulatory norms issued by the Government of India, Ellajosyula stated.
This move toward stricter standards and better practices represents people empowerment in companies. By embracing innovation, adhering to updated norms, and engaging in ongoing training, food safety professionals play a crucial role in building a safer and healthier food ecosystem for all, said Ellajosyula.
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