FSSAI fines double to Rs 11 crore in two years for food adulteration

Food safety and adulterated food has been making the headlines in India since last year. 

A study by the Centre for Science and Environment said in May this year that 85% of the bread and bakery items made in the country, used potassium bromate and potassium iodate, both known carcinogens that have been banned in several countries.

This includes bread items served by popular brands like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Subway, McDonald's, Slice of Italy, and Domino's.

In 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found that Maggi noodles contained more than the permissible amounts of lead and MSG, which led to its ban and subsequent withdrawal. Maggi noodles were brought back to the shelf only in November last year but not before starting a debate on food safety in India. 

In 2015, thanks to loopholes in food safety brought to the notice of the regulator, the FSSAI imposed a penalty of Rs 10.93 crore, highest in the last three years and nearly double than that in 2013. The data was made available in a written reply from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Faggan Singh Kulaste. 

According to the data provided for penalties imposed in 2013, 2014 and 2015, the FSSAI fined the states Rs 5.25 crore for not adhering to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products, Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011. 

In 2014, this went up to Rs 7.34 crore, and it nearly doubled to Rs 10.93 crore (from 2013) in 2015. A majority of fine was imposed on Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Rs 5.98 crore and Rs 1.65 crore, respectively.

Uttar Pradesh was on top in the data with nearly 4,119 samples found to be adulterated and misbranded, according to the data. The state has been found with the highest amount defected samples for three straight years under consideration.

However, what's interesting is that over the last three years, the number of convictions against the total penalties imposed has been steadily declining. 

In 2013, the FSSAI made 3,175 convictions, followed by 2,950 in 2014, and 2,795 in 2015.

In 2015, out of the 74,010 food samples tested for adulteration, 14,599 samples (19.72%) failed to meet the safety standards and were found to be adulterated and misbranded, Kulaste, had said in an earlier response to a question in the Lok Sabha.