The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has requested that states and Union Territories conduct a targeted initiative against contaminated and unsafe food during the forthcoming Navratri and Diwali festive period, as stated in a letter dated September 29, 2026. It referred to the issue as “highly significant.”

In a letter shared on social media, the regulator stated that the demand for sweets, snacks, drinks, edible oil, and dairy products like ghee, khoa, and paneer increases significantly throughout the festive season across the nation. It urged for “increased monitoring and enforcement measures” to stop the distribution of contaminated, fake, and dangerous food.

The commodities highlighted for special focus include milk and dairy items, confections, snacks and savory foods, such as namkeen and papad or fryums, cooking oil, drinks, and ghee. FSSAI mentioned that the list may change based on dietary habits and frequency in each area, referencing the use of "kuttu atta and singhada atta in the northern and western regions" of the country as an illustration.

The food regulator also encouraged appointed officials, Food Safety Officers and Central Food Safety Officers, to perform inspections and sampling in their regions during the festive season. The letter stated that the drives ought to concentrate on pinpointed hot spots and vulnerable areas.

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FSSAI stated that Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) vehicles, when accessible, should be "strategically positioned" in major markets or according to particular intelligence information. The mobile units are designed to facilitate immediate testing, enhance monitoring, raise awareness, and increase consumer confidence in the safety and quality of holiday foods.

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The communication instructed all officers to compulsorily record data on inspections, sampling, and their results, ensuring it is updated on the FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) and FoSCoRIS (Food Safety Compliance through Regular Inspection and Sampling) portals in real time.