NHRC Calls For Systemic Reforms To Tackle Food Adulteration, Stresses Accountability And Awareness

NHRC meeting urged stronger food safety via tech, stricter enforcement, awareness, testing transparency, farm-level monitoring, school labs, AI tracking, and legal reforms to combat adulteration.A system-wide overhaul of food safety mechanisms, real-time monitoring through technology, stronger enforcement, citizen participation, and greater transparency in testing processes were among a series of key recommendations that emerged at a high-level meeting convened by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently on the issue of food adulteration.

The meeting of the Core Group on the Right to Food and Nutrition, held in hybrid mode in the national capital, focused on the theme “Tackling Food Adulteration in India: Understanding the Scale, Challenges and Reforms.” It brought together senior government officials, regulators, scientists, consumer activists, and civil society representatives to deliberate on the growing public health concern.

Chairing the meeting, NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian outlined the evolution of India’s legal framework to combat food adulteration, tracing it from early 20th-century laws to the Food Safety and Standards Act. He said that while regulatory efforts have expanded over the decades, challenges persist in implementation and enforcement.

“Increase in life expectancy must also translate into an improved quality of life, as guaranteed under the Constitution,” he said. “Every individual has the right to live a healthy, disease-free life.”

Reflecting on changing food practices, he observed, “The idea that ‘food should be medicine’ appears to have eroded over time,” urging stakeholders to look beyond statistics and examine the deeper health implications of adulterated food.

Justice Ramasubramanian also raised concerns about delays in legal processes, noting that some cases continue to be pursued on the basis of outdated evidence. He further pointed to gaps in the functioning of testing infrastructure, including mobile laboratories, and flagged consumer indifference as a key factor. He called for “concrete and actionable recommendations” to strengthen regulatory systems.

NHRC Member Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi stressed the need for widespread awareness and preventive action. “Excessive pesticide use in food production is a serious concern. Farmers must be educated at the grassroots to adopt safer practices and ensure better-quality food grains,” he said.

Another NHRC Member, Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, called for a multi-level enforcement mechanism. “There is a need for a special task force, mobile food testing in schools and public places, strict penalties for violators, and a 24/7 helpline,” she said, also advocating inclusion of food safety in school curricula and timely compensation for victims.

Earlier, NHRC Secretary-General Bharat Lal highlighted the scale of the challenge, particularly its impact on vulnerable populations. “Food adulteration poses a serious threat, especially to children, pregnant women, and the elderly,” he said.

“It is nearly impossible to trace or recall adulterated products once they enter the supply chain. Even a single failed sample can impact hundreds,” he added, emphasising the need for coordinated and preventive action. He also noted that the Commission has received complaints related to mid-day meals and other instances of adulteration, and has taken cognisance to ensure accountability.

From the regulatory side, Rajit Punhani, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), said efforts are being made to bring food vendors into the formal system. “Continuous drives are encouraging vendors to register, but vacancies in monitoring systems must be filled to strengthen enforcement,” he said.

Highlighting the role of community engagement, Anusree Raha, Deputy Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, said, “School laboratories can be utilised to test food samples, helping build awareness among students and youth.”

Experts from academia raised concerns about chemical contamination. Dr. Richa Kumar of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi called for farm-level monitoring and stricter controls. “Hazardous pesticide use and chemical adulteration pose serious health risks. There is a need for systemic restrictions on harmful chemicals,” she said.

Consumer rights advocates emphasised transparency and accountability. Prof. Bejon Mishra said, “Food safety systems must ensure transparency in testing, stronger vigilance, and effective use of consumer welfare funds,” while senior journalist and activist Pushpa Girimaji called for a comprehensive national study to identify sectors most vulnerable to adulteration.

Participants also recommended mapping the entire lifecycle of food products to identify contamination points, integrating biomonitoring tools into regulation, and developing cost-effective AI-based systems for real-time tracking and traceability. Strengthening laboratory networks, ensuring public access to inspection data, and improving grievance redressal systems were also emphasised.

The need for stricter implementation of the National Food Security Act, setting standards for storage facilities, simplifying technical terminology, and promoting behavioural change through awareness campaigns were among other suggestions.