FSSAI Seizes 3,280 Tonnes Of Unsafe Food Worth Rs 82 Crore In Diwali Crackdown

India's food safety regulator has seized 3,280 tonnes of banned and non-compliant food products worth around Rs 82 crore in a nationwide crackdown carried out during the festive season, in one of the largest food safety drives the country has seen this year.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said the drive, which ran from 1 September to 5 November, covered more than 56,400 food establishments across states and union territories. Paneer, ghee, milk and sweets — the foods most in demand during Diwali — were among the products seized.

A Festive-Season Drive Against Adulteration

Food adulteration typically spikes during festivals, when demand for milk products and sweets surges and some sellers cut corners to meet it. FSSAI said it stepped up vigilance in view of the festivals, with teams inspecting sweet shops, dairies, caterers and other food businesses across the country.

The regulator said a total of 3,279.57 tonnes of banned and non-compliant products, valued at Rs 81.80 crore, were seized during the drive. The figures were reported by news agency PTI and carried by The Hindu, Business Today, The Economic Times and other major outlets on 8 November.

Licences Cancelled, Shops Sealed

The action went beyond seizures. FSSAI cancelled 52 licences and suspended 1,133 licences over food safety violations, and sealed 314 establishments. Inspectors also issued more than 10,000 improvement notices to food businesses, asking them to fix hygiene and compliance gaps.

The numbers show the scale of the problem as well as the scale of the response. With over 56,000 establishments inspected in just over two months, the drive touched nearly every part of the food chain, from small sweet shops to large dairies.

What Shoppers Should Watch For

For consumers, the message is simple: buy sweets and dairy products only from trusted, licensed sellers, and check for the FSSAI licence number displayed at the shop. Packaged foods should carry proper labels with manufacturing and expiry dates, and sweets that look unusually bright or smell off are best avoided.

FSSAI has also urged people to report suspected adulteration to the regulator, saying that complaints from consumers help inspectors target the worst offenders. During festivals, when buying peaks, that extra caution matters even more.

Food Safety Is A Year-Round Job

The festive drive may be over, but food safety officials say the work continues. Adulteration is not limited to Diwali — it is a year-round risk, and regulators say sustained inspections, stricter penalties and alert consumers are the best defence.

This year's crackdown has sent a clear signal to sellers: cutting corners on food safety can cost a licence, a business, and far more. For the millions of families who buy sweets and milk products every day, that is welcome news.

Did you buy sweets this Diwali — and do you check the shop's licence or the FSSAI mark before you buy? Tell us in the comments below.