India needs a risk-based approach to food adulteration: Sukhvinder Pal Singh
The Australia-based food-safety research scientist on why India must track risks across the food supply chain, rather than relying mainly on checks at shops and markets
360° Perspective Analysis
Deep-dive into Geography, Polity, Economy, History, Environment & Social dimensions — AI-powered, on-demand
Context
An interview with food-safety scientist Sukhvinder Pal Singh highlights the severe public health risks posed by food adulteration in India, particularly for low- and middle-income households. The expert argues that India's current enforcement strategy, heavily focused on end-point retail sampling, is inadequate for its complex food economy. He advocates for an intelligence-led, risk-based approach that targets critical points early in high-risk supply chains, such as milk, spices, and edible oils, to anticipate and prevent contamination before it reaches consumers.
UPSC Perspectives
Governance
The article exposes significant flaws in India's food safety governance, currently overseen by the under the . The expert critiques the prevailing 'end-point regulation' model—relying primarily on inspections and sampling at retail shops. This fragmented approach fails to address the root causes of contamination within India's vast and largely informal food economy. From a governance reform perspective, the solution lies in transitioning to an intelligence-led and risk-based enforcement system. This requires mapping the entire supply chain (from farms and mandis to processors) to identify critical vulnerability points where adulteration, substitution, or misleading labelling occurs at scale. UPSC candidates should connect this to the broader challenges of regulating informal sectors in India. Questions in Mains could focus on evaluating the efficacy of the and proposing structural reforms to shift from a reactive (detecting problems after they occur) to a proactive (anticipating risks) regulatory framework.
Social
Food adulteration is framed not just as an economic deception, but as a critical public health crisis that disproportionately impacts low- to medium-income households. Due to affordability and accessibility constraints, these populations are more vulnerable to 'food fraud.' The article highlights a alarming data gap regarding population exposure to emerging threats like chemical contaminants, heavy metals, environmental toxins, microplastics, and antimicrobial-resistant organisms (AMR) through food and water. This connects directly to the fundamental right to health and safe food under (Right to Life). The long-term health consequences, including potential links to non-communicable diseases, place a significant burden on the healthcare system. UPSC questions might explore the intersection of poverty, food security, and public health, asking how economic vulnerability exacerbates the impact of inadequate food safety regulations and how policies can be designed to protect marginalized communities from such systemic risks.
Economic
The complexity of India's food supply chains, spanning formal and informal sectors, presents a major economic challenge for regulation. The expert suggests a targeted economic intervention strategy: rather than overhauling the entire system simultaneously, authorities should focus resources on a manageable number of high-risk, high-volume food categories (e.g., milk, spices, edible oils, meat, seafood, fresh produce). By concentrating regulatory resources at critical points like bulk manufacturers, processors, and distributors, the government can maximize the impact of its enforcement budget. This approach aligns with the principles of supply chain management and regulatory economics, emphasizing efficiency over exhaustive, yet ineffective, monitoring. Furthermore, improving food safety is crucial for India's agricultural export potential, as frequent rejections of Indian products abroad (like recent issues with spices) harm the economy and international reputation. Candidates should analyze how enhancing traceability and adopting risk-based regulation can boost both domestic public health outcomes and international trade competitiveness.