Food Safety and Standards in India

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) surveys indicate significant issues with food quality in the country. Approximately 20% of prepared food fails to meet FSSAI standards, although it is not necessarily unsafe for consumption.

Implications of Substandard Food

• Scale and Impact: The 20% figure represents a substantial volume of food consumed nationwide, contributing to food insecurity when considered alongside high losses at the production stage.
• Environmental Cost: Food waste, whether at the production or consumption stage, results in inefficient use of land and water, leading to significant environmental costs over time.
• Market Access Restrictions: Inability to meet national food benchmarks limits India's integration into global food trade, as higher export standards act as non-tariff barriers.
• Economic Impact: Nutritional deficiencies stemming from substandard food affect overall economic productivity.

Challenges and Solutions

• Policy Challenges: High standards in potential export destinations lead to protectionist policies, such as tariffs, impacting India’s food security strategy.
• Quality Improvement: Addressing quality issues requires a multifaceted approach, including capacity building, stringent enforcement, and adaptation to changing food habits as incomes rise.
• Regulatory Enforcement: Strengthening enforcement capacity is crucial to reducing the proportion of substandard food, as a constant rate indicates systemic failures.