A consumer complaint has led to one of the more striking food safety actions of the year. India’s food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), said on Saturday that it has started legal proceedings for prosecution against the maker of Priyagold biscuits, after an inspection reportedly found cattle-feed bran being used as a raw material.

The authority announced prosecution against three companies in a post on social media: Surya Food & Agro Ltd, which makes Priyagold biscuits, Dodla Dairy Ltd and Ueir Organic Foods Pvt Ltd. It said notices have also been issued to three other firms.

The biscuit maker

FSSAI said it inspected Surya Food & Agro after receiving a consumer complaint, and observed serious food safety and hygiene deficiencies.

The most striking finding was that bran meant for cattle feed, and not for human consumption, was found being used in Priyagold biscuits as a source of fibre. The regulator said the gunny bags containing the bran were marked as intended for cattle feed. Laboratory findings established violations relating to unsafe and substandard food under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Inspectors also noted problems with plant hygiene, pest control, raw material storage and segregation, personnel hygiene, premises maintenance and the handling of intermediate formulations.

FSSAI had earlier suspended the company’s licence over serious non-compliances found at inspection. It has now granted sanction for prosecution under Section 59 of the Act, which deals with unsafe food.

The other two companies

• Dodla Dairy: A sample of the company’s full cream milk was found to be substandard. According to reports, the process began with a routine sample that failed quality standards for fat content. The competent authority granted sanction to start prosecution against Dodla Dairy and other food business operators linked with the manufacture and marketing of the product.
• Ueir Organic Foods: Pesticide residues were found in yellow raisins sold by the company, which markets its products as organic.

What FSSAI says

The regulator said it maintains zero tolerance for food safety violations and for any compromise on public health under the Food Safety and Standards Act, and warned that non-compliant food business operators will face strict legal consequences. Under the Act, penalties for unsafe or non-compliant food can include fines, licence cancellation and imprisonment.

It is worth being clear about what this is and is not. These are regulatory findings and the start of prosecution. No court has convicted any of the companies, and the allegations are yet to be tested. I could not find a response from any of the three companies in the reports I reviewed.

What can consumers do?

Check the label for the FSSAI licence number and the manufacturing and expiry dates, and be wary of packaged foods that smell, look or taste unusual. Complaints about adulterated, unsafe or substandard food can be made through FSSAI’s Food Safety Connect portal and mobile app.

What happens next

The prosecution will now move through the courts, where the companies can contest the findings. For consumers, the case adds to a growing list of reminders that even well-known packaged brands are subject to inspection, and that a single complaint can set an investigation in motion.

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