What 'Non-Conforming' Really Means
The headline figure of nearly 18% comes from data released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for the 2025-26 period. Out of 223,808 samples analysed, 40,023 were found to be 'non-conforming'. This single term, however, covers
a wide range of issues. A non-conforming sample is one that fails to meet the legal standards, but not all are immediately dangerous. The category includes products that are 'substandard', meaning they don't meet the required quality benchmarks for composition, like having less fat in milk than prescribed. It also includes food with 'mislabelling' or 'misbranding' defects, where the information on the package is incorrect or misleading. The most serious category is 'unsafe' food, which contains harmful bacteria, chemical residues like pesticides, or dangerous adulterants like detergents or non-permitted colours that can cause illness. So, while the 18% figure is alarming, it represents a spectrum of problems from fraudulent labelling to serious health hazards.
The Festive Paradox: More Checks, Persistent Problems
Ironically, this high failure rate persists despite increased vigilance. Food safety authorities routinely launch special enforcement drives during festival periods like Holi, Navratri, and Diwali, when demand for items like milk products, sweets, and oils skyrockets. These drives involve intensified inspections and sample collection from markets, sweet shops, and manufacturing units. Recent crackdowns in late September 2026 across states like Maharashtra saw officials seize and destroy thousands of kilograms of suspect khoya, paneer, and other sweets. In Delhi-NCR alone, authorities destroyed over 14,000 kg of adulterated products ahead of the festive rush. The paradox is that the very surge in demand that triggers these crackdowns also creates a powerful economic incentive for adulteration. Unscrupulous producers cut corners to increase volume and profit, often using cheap and sometimes dangerous substitutes.
The Usual Suspects of Adulteration
During festival season, certain high-demand products are particularly vulnerable. Milk and milk products like khoya, paneer, and ghee are prime targets. Khoya is often bulked up with starch, while milk itself has been found adulterated with everything from water and detergent to urea. Sweets are another major area of concern, with cheap, non-permitted industrial dyes used to make them look more appealing and fake silver foil (vark) made with aluminium used for decoration. Other common targets include edible oils and ghee, which may be mixed with cheaper vegetable fats, and spices like chilli powder, which can be adulterated with brick powder or artificial colours. These adulterants not only cheat the consumer but can also pose significant health risks, from stomach ailments to more severe conditions like liver damage or cancer.
A System Under Strain
The persistence of food adulteration points to systemic challenges that go beyond seasonal enforcement drives. India is a massive country with a vast and fragmented food industry, a large portion of which operates in the unorganized sector, making comprehensive monitoring difficult. The FSSAI itself has faced challenges, including vacant staff positions and budget constraints that can impact its effectiveness. While state authorities are primarily responsible for on-ground enforcement, their capacity can vary. Even when offenders are caught, the legal process can be slow, and penalties may not always serve as a strong enough deterrent. The sheer scale of production, coupled with these enforcement gaps, allows a significant quantity of non-conforming food to continually enter the market.
How Consumers Can Stay Vigilant
Given the scale of the problem, consumer awareness is a critical line of defence. While authorities work to enforce standards, individuals can take steps to protect themselves. The first step is to buy from reputable and licensed vendors whenever possible and be wary of unusually low prices, which can be a red flag for poor quality. Check for FSSAI registration or license numbers on packaged goods. Simple tests can also be performed at home to detect common adulterants. For example, adding a drop of iodine solution to a boiled and cooled sample of khoya or milk can detect starch if the solution turns blue. Real silver foil on sweets disintegrates easily when rubbed, while foil containing aluminium will just crumble into a small ball. Reporting suspected adulteration to local food safety authorities is also crucial for helping them target enforcement actions more effectively.
