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NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed intensified surveillance, inspections and on-the-spot food testing during the festive season to prevent the sale of adulterated, counterfeit and unsafe products.
The regulator shared the directive on X on October 6. Its September 29 circular, addressed to state and Union Territory food safety commissioners and FSSAI regional directors, cites rising demand ahead of Navratri and Diwali.
Sweets, milk products and edible oils under watch
The circular identifies milk and milk products, sweets, snacks and savouries, edible oils, beverages and ghee among the foods requiring closer surveillance. It also allows authorities to select commodities according to local eating patterns, including fasting flours such as kuttu atta and singhada atta where relevant.
Enforcement officials have been asked to inspect food businesses and collect samples during the festive period, with particular attention to identified hotspots and sensitive locations within their jurisdictions.
Mobile testing and real-time reporting
Food Safety on Wheels mobile units, wherever available, are to be deployed strategically at prominent markets or on the basis of specific intelligence. FSSAI says these units should support on-the-spot testing, vigilance and consumer awareness.
Authorities must record inspection and sampling data, along with outcomes, on FoSCoS/FoSCoRIS in real time, according to the circular. The directive describes the matter as most important.
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Atul Chaturvedi 