FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) certification is mandatory for food products sold in India. But many consumers overestimate what this certification actually guarantees about product quality or safety.
What FSSAI certification means
An FSSAI license indicates that a food business has registered with the authority and commits to following food safety regulations. It's a compliance requirement, not a quality endorsement.
- •The business is registered and has a valid license
- •Basic hygiene and manufacturing standards should be followed
- •The product should not contain banned substances
- •Labeling should meet minimum regulatory requirements
What FSSAI doesn't guarantee
FSSAI certification is about regulatory compliance, not product quality. A certified product has met minimum legal requirements — not necessarily optimal health standards.
- •The product is the healthiest option in its category
- •Ingredients are of premium quality
- •The product is suitable for your specific health needs
- •Regular quality testing is being conducted
- •The product is free from all potentially concerning ingredients
How to use this information
FSSAI certification is a baseline requirement — think of it as a minimum threshold, not a recommendation. Products without FSSAI certification should be avoided, but having certification doesn't mean a product automatically meets your standards.
Look at FSSAI certification as 'necessary but not sufficient.' It's the starting point for evaluation, not the end point.