A RESEARCH ON FOOD SECURITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION IN INDIA

Author – JAYA MAHATY MANDALAPARTHY, ALLIANCE SCHOOL OF LAW, ALLIANCE UNIVERSITY, BANGALORE

Best Citation – JAYA MAHATY MANDALAPARTHY, A RESEARCH ON FOOD SECURITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION IN INDIA, ILE Consumer Protection Law and Review, 1 (1) of 2023, Pg. 18-24, ISBN – 978-81-961120-4-2.

ABSTRACT

FSSAI, short for Food and Safety Standards Authority of India, is the statutory body for ensuring the safety and quality of food in India. It authorizes licenses for manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of food products, promotes public awareness about food safety, and punishes those who violate its quality standards. The Consumer Protection Act is another statute that helps deal with circumstances detrimental to the health and welfare of a consumer. With food being the primary form of nutrition provided to us, it ought to be of good quality to provide proper nutrition. Food protection is essential to prevent illnesses, protect consumer health, and maintain quality. Since supermarkets and grocery stores are the primary sources of food products, keeping them clean and ensuring quality produce becomes paramount. Also, ensuring that means of production, the process and the distribution is without the inclusion of hazardous substances is important. However, due to people being corrupt, there has been a fall in food quality and the nourishment it provides to the human body. Countries like the United States, Canada, European Union, and Australia are known for having strong food protection laws, which reduces the rate of adulterated food and provides their people with nutritive food. This paper provides an analysis of the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 and its impact on the food industry. It also aims to inform the reader about food fraud and food protection laws in India alongside The Food Safety and Standards Act with the help of case laws and judgments over time.

Keywords: food protection, Consumer Protection Act, safety standards, nutrition, Food Safety and Standards Act, adulteration.