A total of 533 complaints related to the food and beverage sector have been registered in consumer commissions across the country in the past two years, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution BL Verma informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 88 cases, followed by Rajasthan with 88 and Haryana with 57 complaints.
Union Minister of State BL Verma provided the data in a written response to the Rajya Sabha.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), established in 2008 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, plays a crucial role in regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food products to ensure they are safe and wholesome for consumption. The Act includes provisions for penal actions against substandard, misbranded, and unsafe food. To enforce these provisions, FSSAI conducts regular surveillance, inspections, and random sampling of food products, including milk, milk products, and baby food. Mobile food testing labs, known as Food Safety on Wheels, have also been introduced to extend testing facilities to remote areas.
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, complements these efforts with stringent punishments under Sections 90 and 91 for offenses such as manufacturing or selling adulterated or spurious food products. Penalties, including imprisonment and fines, are determined based on the harm caused to consumers.
To streamline grievance redressal, the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Rules, 2020, waive fees for complaints involving goods or services valued up to ₹5,00,000. Additionally, the E-daakhil portal facilitates online filing of complaints, and video conferencing options are available for hearings. The Act mandates that complaints be resolved within three to five months, depending on the complexity of the case, with adjournments discouraged to ensure swift justice.
