The Hindu Editorial Analysis
7 June 2025
Maintaining India’s Progress in Food Safety Standards
(Source – The Hindu, National Edition – Page No. – 08)
Topic: GS 2: Health – Food Safety and Regulation | GS 3: Science and Technology – Application in Food Regulation | Governance – Regulatory Bodies (FSSAI)
Context
- World Food Safety Day (June 7, 2025) marks a shift in India’s regulatory focus from simply identifying food adulteration to adopting a science-based, consumer-centric food safety ecosystem.
- The editorial by former FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal evaluates India’s food safety journey, its progress under FSSAI, and the challenges that must be addressed to uphold global standards.
Introduction
From street food to superfoods, safety is non-negotiable.
India’s food safety evolution—from banning adulterants to enforcing toxicity limits and safety thresholds—has been commendable. Yet, it must now embrace scientific rigour, transparency, and consumer trust to keep pace with global benchmarks.
India’s Food Safety Journey: Key Milestones
1. From Adulteration to Risk Assessment
- Initial framework: Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (1954) – focused on binary identification of adulteration.
- Turning point: Food Safety and Standards Act (2006) – established FSSAI and introduced risk-based frameworks aligned with Codex Alimentarius Commission.
2. Global Parity Achieved by 2020
- India developed Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides, defined safe levels for food additives, and introduced veterinary drug residue controls.
- Today, Indian standards approach those of developed nations, but scientific and communication gaps remain.
Key Challenges
1. Absence of India-Specific Toxicological Data
- Most safety limits (MRLs, ADIs) rely on foreign data that do not reflect Indian diets, farming patterns, or environmental exposure.
- India lacks a Total Diet Study (TDS) to assess cumulative exposure, weakening the credibility of domestic risk assessments.
2. Risk Communication Gaps
- Technical jargon (e.g., “0.01 mg/kg MRL”) confuses the public and erodes trust.
- Example: MRL relaxation for pesticides led to public panic, though it actually increased safety margins.
3. Legacy Issues: The MSG Misunderstanding
- Despite scientific consensus on MSG’s safety (per JECFA), India mandates outdated warning labels.
- This contradicts evidence-based regulation and spreads confusion.
The Way Forward: A Science-Based, Transparent Ecosystem
1. Conduct India-Specific Total Diet Studies (TDS)
- Helps evaluate real-world exposure to contaminants across age, diet, and region.
2. Improve Scientific Risk Communication
- Use simplified, transparent language to inform consumers.
- Remove outdated warning labels (e.g., MSG) not supported by global scientific consensus.
3. Build Institutional Trust
- Strengthen stakeholder engagement – consumers, scientists, and industry.
- Base decisions on evidence, not fear, through open disclosure and accessible guidelines.
Conclusion
India’s food safety transformation is a global success story.
But the next phase demands not just standards—but scientific integrity, transparency, and trust. As we celebrate World Food Safety Day, the focus must shift from regulatory enforcement alone to public confidence, communication, and research-backed policymaking.
The future of food must be safe, science-led, and citizen-trusted.