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Food Inspections Soar 46% Before Festivals: Beware of Adulteration Red Flags!
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News18•03-10-2026, 14:28
Food Inspections Soar 46% Before Festivals: Beware of Adulteration Red Flags!
- •Food inspections by FSSAI and state authorities surged by 46% from 3,57,072 in 2023-24 to 5,20,566 in 2025-26, driven by increased demand for sweets and dairy products during Navratri and Diwali.
- •Out of 2,23,808 food samples analyzed in 2025-26, 40,023 were found to be non-conforming, highlighting significant safety concerns.
- •Festivals create a stronger economic incentive for adulteration of high-demand items like sweets, milk, ghee, khoya, and paneer, prompting intensified surveillance.
- •Consumers should watch for red flags such as unusually cheap products, lack of proper packaging or expiry details, loose milk products without clear hygiene, and supplies from unverified sources.
- •Buying from established, licensed outlets and checking packaging details are crucial defenses, as inspections alone cannot cover every vendor.
Key Questions Answered
Government data shows that food inspections by the FSSAI and state authorities surged by about 46%, increasing from 3,57,072 in 2023-24 to 5,20,566 in 2025-26.
Festivals trigger a sharp increase in demand for popular items like mithai, milk, khoya, paneer, and ghee, creating a stronger economic incentive for adulteration to meet the high market requirements.
Consumers should look out for unusually cheap or special offer products from unfamiliar sources, items without proper packaging, manufacturing details, or expiry information, loose milk sold without hygiene practices, and sudden large supplies from unverified suppliers.
