Consumers can now directly contact the food safety authority if they discover substandard food or unsanitary conditions in hotels, restaurants, or eateries. Through the 'Food Safety Connect' application of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a complaint can be registered regarding low-quality products, counterfeiting, incorrect labeling, and hygiene issues.
A feature of this process is the ability to attach photographs or video materials to the complaint. To submit a request, one must first download the Food Safety Connect application onto a smartphone, then log in as a consumer, and select the option to register a complaint.
If dirty or spoiled food is found in any food establishment—be it a restaurant, snack bar, street vendor, or other food business—a picture or video can be taken. Similarly, photos and videos related to kitchen dirtiness or the presence of counterfeit products can also be attached to the complaint.
Next, the name and address of the relevant restaurant, store, or food enterprise must be provided. The complaint can be sent after selecting a category that describes the nature of the claim, such as low food quality, counterfeiting, or unsanitary conditions.
It should be noted that the basis for the creation of FSSAI was the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. This act was approved by the President on August 23, 2006, after which FSSAI was established in September 2008. The goal of its establishment was to consolidate various old laws and systems related to food into a single comprehensive structure.
Prior to this, issues related to food in the country were addressed through numerous different laws and departments. The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 created a centralized regulatory system to ensure food safety.
FSSAI establishes scientifically based standards for matters related to the production, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food products. Its scope includes numerous rules and procedures pertaining to the food business. Recently, following decisive action by Commissioner FDA Tukaram Mundhe in Maharashtra, food quality and safety issues have once again become a subject of discussion.