Key Update 

To protect public health, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed States to step up surveillance of milk, milk-based products, and other high-demand items during the festive season. Food safety officers must submit inspection data, sampling results, and outcomes of this special drive by November 15. “During the festive season, demand for sweets, savouries, and milk products such as ghee, khoa, and paneer rises sharply. This surge often encourages adulteration, putting public health at risk and undermining consumer confidence,” FSSAI said.

State food safety commissioners must conduct targeted surveillance in hotspots and sensitive areas. Where available, Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs) should operate in major marketplaces to carry out on-the-spot testing, enhance vigilance, raise awareness, and strengthen consumer trust.

Conducting Nationwide Spice Surveillance

FSSAI has also directed States to inspect spice manufacturing units nationwide during October. Authorities will test 13 key spices—including black pepper, cardamom, chilli, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, and turmeric, both whole and powdered—for quality, contaminants, microbial load, and labelling compliance.

Ensuring Compliance at the Source

The Authority instructed States to focus inspections on manufacturing units to ensure compliance at the source. States must submit their spice surveillance data to FSSAI by November 20.

Source: The Hindu Business Line