Uttar Pradesh tops list with 112 Cases
A total of 533 consumer complaints were registered in the food and beverages category across various consumer commissions in the last two years, according to a written statement by BL Verma, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in the Rajya Sabha.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been actively monitoring food safety, conducting inspections, and penalizing Food Business Operators (FBOs) for substandard, misbranded, and unsafe food under the Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006.
To enhance accessibility for consumers, FSSAI has introduced mobile food testing labs named Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs) and digital platforms like the E-daakhil portal for online complaint filings.
The following table highlights the state-wise complaints registered under the food and beverages category:
State/UT Number of Complaints
Andhra Pradesh 17
Assam 03
Bihar 16
Chandigarh 04
Chhattisgarh 10
Delhi 28
Gujarat 16
Haryana 57
Himachal Pradesh 05
Jammu and Kashmir 01
Jharkhand 06
Kerala 51
Madhya Pradesh 08
Maharashtra 07
Odisha 15
Puducherry 09
Punjab 12
Rajasthan 88
Tamil Nadu 30
Telangana 20
Uttar Pradesh 112
Uttarakhand 04
West Bengal 12
Total 533
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 ensures quick redressal of grievances, stipulating that complaints be resolved within three months if analysis is not required and within five months if testing of commodities is involved. Additionally, consumers can file complaints free of cost if the value of goods or services is up to Rs 5 Lakh.
The initiative also facilitates video conferencing hearings at the National and State Consumer Commissions, ensuring convenient and timely justice for aggrieved consumers.