India’s food regulator FSSAI has tightened safety standards for several commonly consumed food items, including besan, edible oils, seafood and seed-based products, amid increasing concerns over contamination and adulteration.Under revised rules set to come into effect from December 1, 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has expanded contamination checks for heavy metals such as lead and cadmium to include pulse flours like besan and packaged pulse-based mixes. Earlier, these standards were mainly applicable to pulses.
The regulator has also revised permissible limits for aflatoxins — toxic compounds produced by fungi — in oils, oilseeds and ready-to-eat oilseed products. Updated testing norms for arsenic in fish oils and saffrole levels in foods containing nutmeg and mace have also been introduced.In another major step, FSSAI has proposed limits for antibiotic residues such as trimethoprim and oxolinic acid in seafood products including prawns, shrimps and fish.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Health experts warned that long-term exposure to antibiotic residues may contribute to antimicrobial resistance and allergies.FSSAI has additionally released draft standards for lesser-used edible oils made from chilli, tomato, muskmelon and okra seeds as demand for cold-pressed and specialty oils rises in urban markets. The proposed rules aim to ensure these products remain free from adulteration, harmful impurities and mineral oil contamination.The draft regulations also cover edible seeds such as sunflower, sesame, flaxseed and pumpkin seeds sold in raw or roasted forms. FSSAI has invited public feedback on the proposed standards for 60 days before finalising them.
