FSSAI launches 'Holi Anti-Adulteration Drive' to ensure food safety and quality during festive season

In view of the upcoming Holi festival and the significant rise in demand for festive food items, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced a nationwide “Holi Anti-Adulteration Drive – 2026” to safeguard public health and prevent food adulteration.

During the festive period, the consumption of sweets, savouries, edible oils, milk and milk products—including ghee, khoa, paneer—and cereal-based products witnesses a sharp increase. Such seasonal demand often creates economic incentives for adulteration, posing serious risks to consumer health and eroding public confidence.

Recognising this concern, FSSAI has called for intensified surveillance and enforcement activities across states and union territories. Enforcement officials, including Designated Officers, Food Safety Officers, and Central Food Safety Officers, have been directed to conduct targeted inspections and sampling drives within their jurisdictions. Special focus will be placed on identified hotspots and sensitive locations, with commodities selected based on regional consumption patterns and prevalence.

To further strengthen monitoring efforts, Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs), wherever available, will be strategically deployed in prominent marketplaces and at locations identified through intelligence inputs. These mobile testing units will facilitate on-the-spot food testing, enhance vigilance, raise public awareness, and reinforce consumer trust by assuring the availability of safe and quality food products during the festive season.

FSSAI has also mandated that all relevant data pertaining to inspections, sampling, and outcomes be duly updated and recorded on FoSCoS/FoSCoRIS platforms by 31 March 2026. The matter has been designated as “Most Important”, underscoring the urgency and priority attached to ensuring food safety during Holi.

The directive has been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.