As India prepares for the festive season, food safety has become an important concern for consumers. With demand for sweets, milk products, ghee, namkeen, and other festive treats increasing, authorities are strengthening inspections to prevent food adulteration and the sale of unsafe products.
On September 29, 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an advisory directing food safety authorities across states and Union Territories to intensify inspections and sampling ahead of Navratri and Diwali. The campaign focuses on protecting consumers and improving confidence in the quality of food available in markets.
Why Is Food Safety Under the Spotlight?
Festivals bring families together through traditional sweets, snacks, and special meals. However, increased demand can also create opportunities for unscrupulous sellers to market adulterated, counterfeit, or poorly stored products.
According to reports published in October, authorities have been instructed to pay particular attention to milk and milk products, sweets, ghee, edible oils, namkeen, beverages, and other popular festive foods.
The regulator has also encouraged the use of mobile food-testing laboratories, known as Food Safety on Wheels, in prominent markets to support on-the-spot testing and consumer awareness.
What Should Consumers Check Before Buying Sweets?
Consumers can take a few practical steps when purchasing festive food products.
1. Check packaging and dates: For packaged sweets and snacks, inspect the manufacturing details, expiry or use-by date where applicable, ingredients, and storage instructions.
2. Look for food business details: Packaged products should carry the required food business and FSSAI licence or registration information. Buy from reputable sellers and keep receipts for reference.
3. Avoid damaged packaging: Do not purchase products with broken seals, leaking containers, unusual swelling, or signs of improper storage.
4. Pay attention to freshness: Choose sweets that are properly stored and protected from dust, insects, and contamination. Follow the seller's storage advice, especially for milk-based products.
5. Report suspicious products: If you suspect adulteration or unsafe food, retain the packaging and purchase details and report the concern to the relevant food safety authority.
Appearance and smell alone cannot reliably establish whether a product is adulterated, so consumers should avoid relying on informal home tests as proof of safety.
What Are Authorities Doing?
The FSSAI's festive-season advisory calls for increased surveillance, inspections, and collection of food samples. Authorities can investigate suspected violations and take action under applicable food safety regulations.
Recent reports also describe local enforcement drives involving inspections of sweet shops, dairies, warehouses, and other food businesses. These efforts aim to identify non-compliant products before they reach consumers.
The effectiveness of the campaign will depend on consistent inspections, reliable laboratory testing, and appropriate action against confirmed violations.
How Can Shoppers Enjoy a Safer Festive Season?
Consumers do not need to avoid festive treats altogether. Instead, they can make informed choices by purchasing from trusted outlets, checking product information, storing food correctly, and avoiding items that appear spoiled or have damaged packaging.
Businesses also have an important responsibility to maintain hygiene, use permitted ingredients, and follow food storage and labelling requirements.
The 2026 festive-season food safety campaign highlights the importance of protecting consumers during one of India's busiest periods for food purchases. Increased inspections and testing can help authorities identify unsafe products, while careful shopping habits can reduce avoidable risks.
As Navratri and Diwali celebrations continue, food safety should remain a shared responsibility between regulators, sellers, and consumers. Choosing properly labelled products and reporting genuine concerns can help families celebrate with greater confidence.
