The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated a nationwide inspection drive to curb adulteration and misbranding in milk and milk products, signalling a sharper regulatory focus on one of the country’s most sensitive and widely consumed food categories.
Triggered by a series of recent food safety violations, the drive directs State Food Safety Departments and FSSAI Regional Offices to carry out intensive inspections across the dairy value chain. The checks will cover premises involved in the production, storage and sale of milk and milk products such as paneer and khoya, encompassing both licensed or registered operators as well as unlicensed food business operators (FBOs).
A Sector Under Persistent Scrutiny
Milk and dairy products occupy a unique position in India’s food system, combining high consumption volumes with significant informal participation. While organised dairies have invested heavily in quality systems and traceability, adulteration risks persist, particularly in fragmented supply chains and seasonal demand spikes.
FSSAI’s advisory reportedly mandates authorities to strengthen traceability checks, verify sourcing of raw milk, examine processing practices and ensure compliance with labelling norms. This suggests a move beyond routine sampling towards a more systemic assessment of dairy operations, including backward linkages.
Implications for Dairy Businesses
For compliant dairies, the inspection drive may serve to level the playing field by identifying non-compliant and unlicensed operators who undercut prices through unsafe practices. However, it also raises the bar on documentation, hygiene standards and process transparency, particularly for small and medium-scale players.
Industry observers note that increased enforcement is likely to push more informal operators towards registration and compliance, accelerating formalisation within the sector. At the same time, inconsistent enforcement across states remains a concern, highlighting the need for uniform interpretation of food safety standards.
Consumer Trust and Market Stability
From a consumer perspective, the initiative is aimed squarely at restoring trust in everyday dairy products. Adulteration in staples such as milk and paneer not only poses health risks but also undermines confidence in the broader food system. Sustained and visible enforcement could help reassure consumers while reinforcing accountability across the supply chain.
The Road Ahead
While inspection drives have been undertaken in the past, their long-term impact has often depended on follow-up actions, including prosecutions, penalties and public disclosure. For this initiative to deliver lasting results, experts argue that it must be complemented by capacity building for FBOs, clearer guidance on compliance, and continued investment in testing infrastructure.
For India’s dairy sector, the FSSAI’s nationwide crackdown represents both a regulatory challenge and an opportunity: a challenge for those lagging on compliance, and an opportunity for responsible players to differentiate themselves through quality, safety and transparency.
