Understanding the New Food Safety Rules by FSSAI

In a country as diverse and food-loving as India, ensuring the safety of what we eat is critical. Whether you're buying a packet of chips or eating from a street vendor, you want to trust that the food is safe and hygienic. That’s where FSSAI Registration comes in — the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

Over the years, FSSAI has played a major role in setting food safety standards, inspecting businesses, and protecting consumers. But now, FSSAI has introduced new food safety rules that every food business owner and consumer should understand.

In this article, we break down the new rules, what they mean, and how they affect your daily life — all in simple, easy-to-understand language.

What is FSSAI?

FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) is the top food regulatory body in India. It operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is responsible for:

• Setting safety standards for food
  
  

• Issuing food licenses
  
  

• Checking hygiene in food businesses
  
  

• Taking action against adulteration or unsafe food practices
  
  

In short, FSSAI ensures that the food you eat is safe, clean, and fit for consumption.

Why the New Rules?

As the food industry grows with online delivery apps, cloud kitchens, packaged snacks, organic markets, and imported products, the need for stricter and smarter food safety rules has become urgent.

The new rules aim to:

• Improve food quality
  
  

• Make compliance easier for businesses
  
  

• Increase accountability
  
  

• Keep up with global standards
  
  

Let’s look at what’s new in these updated FSSAI regulations.

Key Highlights of the New FSSAI Rules

1. Mandatory FSSAI License Display

FSSAI has now made it mandatory for all food businesses to display their FSSAI license number and QR code at their premises and on invoices/bills.

What this means:

• Restaurants, grocery stores, and food delivery outlets must visibly show their FSSAI license at the counter.
  
  

• Customers can scan the QR code to verify if the license is valid.
  
  

• It promotes transparency and helps you know whether you're eating from a licensed outlet.
  
  

2. Hygiene Rating System for Food Outlets

FSSAI has introduced a Hygiene Rating System, especially for restaurants and food service businesses.

• Clean outlets get better ratings.
  
  

• Hygiene stars will be displayed publicly.
  
  

• It helps consumers make better choices.
  
  

3. Stricter Rules for Cloud Kitchens and Online Food Delivery

As online food delivery has boomed, FSSAI now insists that cloud kitchens and aggregator platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, etc. must:

• Work only with licensed vendors
  
  

• Mention the FSSAI license of the seller on the app
  
  

• Stop listing businesses that are unregistered or fail safety checks
  
  

This ensures the food you order online meets the same safety standards as dine-in restaurants.

4. Allergen Information Must Be Displayed

New rules require that packaged food must mention allergen information, like:

• Nuts
  
  

• Milk
  
  

• Soy
  
  

• Gluten
  
  

• Eggs
  
  

This helps people with food allergies make safer food choices and avoid health risks.

5. Fortified Foods Made Standard

FSSAI is encouraging the use of fortified food (foods with added nutrients like iron, vitamin A, D, etc.), especially in:

• Edible oils
  
  

• Milk
  
  

• Rice
  
  

• Wheat flour
  
  

Now, these foods must carry the +F logo, indicating they are fortified and better for health.

6. SOPs for Street Food Vendors

A big step is the focus on training and registration of street food vendors under the “Eat Right India” movement.

• Street vendors are being trained in hygiene and food safety.
  
  

• Local authorities must ensure vendors are licensed and follow basic standards like clean water, proper storage, and hand washing.
  
  

This ensures that your favorite roadside snacks are also safe to eat.

7. Faster Action Against Food Adulteration

FSSAI has empowered food inspectors to take quicker action against:

• Fake food products
  
  

• Misleading labels
  
  

• Expired goods sold in stores
  
  

New rules support faster lab testing and fines to prevent adulterated or unsafe food from reaching the market.

8. Online Food Business Registration Becomes Simpler

FSSAI has updated its FoSCoS portal (Food Safety Compliance System) for easy online registration.

• Small businesses and home kitchens can now apply for FSSAI registration online in just a few steps.
  
  

• This is great for women entrepreneurs, home bakers, and small sellers starting.
  
  

9. Strict Labelling Rules for Health Supplements

With the rise of health powders, protein shakes, and vitamin pills, FSSAI now mandates:

• Clear labeling of ingredients and side effects
  
  

• No false claims like “100% cure” or “zero side effects”
  
  

This protects customers from misleading marketing in the name of health.

10. Environmental Focus: Ban on Excessive Plastic Packaging

FSSAI now supports the movement to reduce single-use plastic, especially in food delivery and packaging.

• Businesses are encouraged to use eco-friendly containers.
  
  

• Excess packaging must be avoided.
  
  

This ties food safety with environmental safety, promoting responsible consumption.

Also Read: FSSAI Registration Renewal Process in India

Conclusion

Food safety is not just the government’s job; it’s everyone’s responsibility. The new rules by FSSAI aim to create a safer, cleaner, and more transparent food system in India.

For food businesses, these rules offer a chance to build credibility and customer trust. For consumers, it ensures better health and safety in what we eat every day.

So next time you eat out or order food online, remember to check the FSSAI license. A small step from your side can lead to a big change in India’s food culture.