India's food safety crackdown brings raids, red labels and junk food curbs
INDA•India has intensified food safety inspections as regulators push stricter warning labels and limits on junk food sales in and near schools. The measures are raising concerns across the country's packaged food industry, valued at more than $100 billion.
1. Inspections intensify
India's food regulators have stepped up checks, with more than 100,000 food samples tested annually since 2020 and roughly one in five found unsafe, substandard or improperly labeled, government data shows. Nearly 8,000 food business licences have been cancelled in the last three years. In one recent raid, inspectors seized 1,300 kg of adulterated paneer in Uttar Pradesh.
2. Warnings under debate
The food regulator has proposed red warning labels for products high in sugar, salt or fat, revising its proposal so a warning would be triggered if even one nutrient is high. India has debated such labels for years, and the Supreme Court has questioned why fresh public consultations are needed. A Reuters story in August said India had reportedly yielded to industry lobbying in March when Coca-Cola and groups backing Nestle opposed warning labels.
3. Industry raises concerns
The regulatory push also includes a proposed ban on junk food sales inside and near schools. Industry representatives say compliance could be difficult and that proposed nutrient thresholds may put warning labels on a large share of packaged foods. Food safety commissioner Tukaram Mundhe's inspections have targeted outlets including Domino's, Pizza Hut and McDonald's, as well as a warehouse where labels on products made by PepsiCo, Nestle, Coca-Cola and Unilever were allegedly falsified for exports.
