Food Adulteration: Law, Punishment and Case Procedure

Updated on June 20, 2025 12:28:38 PM

Food Adulteration is a critical issue that we all are facing in this era. It is an addition of harmful substances in food to gain more profit. This not only puts our health at risk but deceives consumers via fake promotions or advertisements. It is estimated that 70% of food products are adulterated in the market which leads to several serious health issues. There are several serious diseases such as Cancer, mouth sores, liver damage, low BP problems or more caused by Food Adulteration.

In India, where food is an essential part of our culture, tackling food adulteration is crucial. In this article, we will get all about Food Adulteration, its type, reasons for adulteration, the role of FASSI, case procedure and punishments. By getting about the laws and procedures, we can play an important role in keeping our food safe and trustworthy.

What is Adulteration?

According to the “Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, of 1954”, an adulterant is any addition or subtraction of any substance that makes the food unsafe or unhealthier. The food is considered adulterated if it is -

Note: It is not considered adulterated if the quality issues are caused by natural causes.

Case Procedure against Food Adulteration

The complete process for filing a consumer complaint for food adulteration is as follows:

Step 1: Gather complete information

As a consumer, you have complete information regarding the product or services that you have purchased. The information may include the payment receipt, product description and any communication between the seller or buyer, etc.

Step 2: Send a Formal Notice

The consumer should connect with customer services and mention their problem or issue regarding food adulteration. If there is no action taken even after complaining to the customer care department, the consumer can send a formal written notice to the seller. This notice can be sent by post service or mail to the seller.

Step 3: Take Legal Advice

Before filing a consumer complaint for food adulteration, the consumer must take legal advice. They will provide you with a thorough explanation regarding the process or legal remedies that will help you during the hearing process. If you file a complaint with incomplete information there will be more chances to face rejection. In many cases when the consumer finds guilty they could also pay a fine or compensation.

“Litem Legalis” will be your best choice with a number of experiences for filing a consumer complaint.

Step 4: Filing a Complaint

Here, the court will provide equal opportunity of argument to both parties. The judge will hear and examine both side's arguments, and evidence, listen to testimonies and questions and review them thoroughly. Our lawyer will guide you on how to respond to the cross-examination via court procedure.

If the case is still pending, the judge can order protection, custody, and support while the case is being handled. The purpose of these orders is to protect the victim and any children involved.

Step 5: Judgement

In the next stage when the consumer doesn’t get any response from the seller, they can file their complaint in the consumer forum. Firstly, the consumer must select the appropriate forum according to the case value.

There are a total of three types of forums where consumer file their complaint such as:

  • National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC):  It is the national-level court for solving consumer disputes. If the case value is more than 1 crore the consumer can file a complaint in NCDRC.
  • State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC): It is the state-level court for resolving consumer problems. If the case value is less than 1 crore the consumer can file a complaint in SCDRC.
  • District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC): This is the district-level court for solving consumer issues. If the case value is up to 20 lakhs, the consumer can file a complaint in DCDRC.

Types of Food Adulteration

There are three types of Food Adulteration, these are as follow:

Reason for Food Adulteration

There are so many reasons for food adulteration some of them are mentioned below:

Role of FASSI

The FASSI stands for the "Food Safety and Standards Authority of India” established in 2006. It works for inspecting, testing food samples and enforcing food safety standards. It gives licences and registers food businesses to ensure compliance. The FASSI also makes rules for food safety. It also works for conducting awareness campaigns and training programs for consumers. The FSSAI aims to guarantee that safe and high-quality food is available in India by regularly updating regulations and interacting with stakeholders.

Conclusion

A comprehensive strategy with strict laws, strong enforcement systems, and engaged involvement from all parties is needed to combat food adulteration. We can protect the public's health and maintain the integrity of our food supply by making sure that safety regulations are followed, raising consumer awareness, and enforcing the necessary penalties. We can work toward a future where everyone has access to safe, wholesome, and pure food by banding together and remaining vigilant.

How can “Litem Legalis” help you?

Litem Legalis is a team of professional lawyers who have years of experience. Our team believes you to provide complete guidance and friendly assistance through the complete procedure. There are several other reasons that help you to make Litem Legalis the best choice such as:

Free Legal Advice

Free Legal Advice

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Expert Lawyers

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Quick Process

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Food Adulteration Act?

The Food Adulteration Act is an act of legislation aimed to prevent and prohibit the adulteration of food items, protecting customers' safety and quality by means of legal safeguards.

What is FASSI?

FSSAI stands for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, a government agency under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with the mandate to regulate and ensure food safety standards across India!

What is the punishment for Food Adulteration?

Adulteration of food is punishable in India with fines and imprisonment. The Food Safety and Standards Act imposes harsher punishments, including higher fines and harsher jail terms, on repeat violators.

What is the meaning of Food Adulteration?

Food adulteration is the intentional addition of unsafe or inferior ingredients or the purposeful removal of necessary ingredients from food, risking its nutritional value, safety, and quality.

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