FSSAI Complaint for Adulterated or Unsafe Food in India

To complain about adulterated, unsafe, expired or mislabelled food, file a grievance with FSSAI on the Food Safety Connect portal at foscos.fssai.gov.in/consumergrievance or through the “Food Safety Connect” mobile app. FSSAI (the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) is the regulator under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, and your complaint is routed to the Designated Officer of your district, who can order inspection and sampling.

You can complain about packaged food, restaurant or hotel meals, food delivered online, dirty food premises, foreign objects in food, expired stock on shelves, and misleading claims or labels.

1. Open the portal or app. Go to foscos.fssai.gov.in/consumergrievance in any browser, or install the “Food Safety Connect” mobile app from your app store.
2. Choose to lodge a grievance. Select the option to register a new consumer complaint or feedback.
3. Pick the complaint type. Choose the category that fits your issue, for example adulteration, foreign object, unsafe or expired food, unhygienic premises, or misleading label or advertisement.
4. Enter the food business details. Add the name and full address of the shop, restaurant, brand, manufacturer or delivery platform. The more precise the location, the faster the local officer can act.
5. Describe what happened. Write clear, factual details, the date and time, the product name, the batch or lot number, the expiry or use-by date, and exactly what was wrong.
6. Attach your evidence. Upload photographs of the product, the label, the bill or receipt, and the defect. Keep the physical item if you safely can.
7. Give your contact details. Enter your name, mobile number and email so the department can update you and seek clarification.
8. Submit and save the reference number. Note the complaint or grievance reference number shown on screen. You will need it to track status and to file an RTI later.

Your complaint is forwarded to the Designated Officer of the district where the food business operates. The Designated Officer can direct a Food Safety Officer to inspect the premises, check licences and hygiene, and draw a sample of the suspect food. The sample is sent to a notified Food Analyst or laboratory for testing.

If the food is found to be adulterated, unsafe, misbranded or misleadingly advertised, the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 provides for penalties and prosecution against the food business operator. You may be asked for clarification or for the physical sample during this process, so keep your evidence and reference number safe.

• Clear photographs of the food, the defect, and the full label
• A photograph of the bill, receipt or online order confirmation
• The batch or lot number and the expiry or use-by date
• The exact name and address of the shop, restaurant, brand or delivery platform
• The date and time you bought or were served the food
• Your name, mobile number and email for follow-up

• Throwing away the product. Without the item, label or batch number, sampling and testing are much harder. Keep it safely sealed.
• Vague location. “A shop near the market” is not enough. Give the full name and address so the local officer can reach it.
• No bill or proof. A receipt or order screenshot links you to the exact purchase and strengthens the case.
• Wrong forum. A pricing or refund dispute is a consumer-court matter, while adulteration, hygiene and labelling go to FSSAI through Food Safety Connect.
• Forgetting the reference number. Without it you cannot track the action taken or file a focused RTI later.

A complaint can stall after you submit it. The Right to Information Act 2005 lets you ask the Food Safety Department or the Designated Officer (as the Public Information Officer) for the action-taken report, the inspection details and the sample analysis result on your specific complaint. Quote your Food Safety Connect reference number in the RTI.

Draft the application quickly with the AI RTI Drafter. If you get no reply within 30 days or get an unsatisfactory one, escalate using the First Appeal Builder.

Yes. Lodging a consumer grievance on the Food Safety Connect portal or app does not carry a fee. You only need details and evidence of the problem.

Yes. Online-delivered food falls within the system. Name both the delivery platform and the restaurant that prepared the food, and attach the order confirmation and photographs.

An FSSAI complaint targets food safety, adulteration, hygiene and labelling, and can trigger inspection, sampling and penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. A consumer court handles refunds, deficiency in service and compensation. You can pursue both.

You can withhold publicity, but giving your name and contact details helps the department seek clarification, collect the sample and update you on the action taken.

Track it using your reference number on the portal, and if there is no clear answer, file an RTI to the Food Safety Department PIO for the action-taken report and the Food Analyst result on your complaint.

• FSSAI consumer grievance portal, foscos.fssai.gov.in/consumergrievance
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, fssai.gov.in
• Food Safety and Standards Act 2006

• How to apply for an FSSAI food licence
• RTI when an FSSAI food licence is delayed
• The RTI Playbook
• AI RTI Drafter
• First Appeal Builder