Measures taken to Strengthen Food Testing System in the country

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has expanded the nation’s food testing infrastructure. It has notified 259 NABL‑accredited laboratories and 24 referral labs for sample analysis. Under the Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country (SoFTeL) scheme, 47 state food testing laboratories have been upgraded with advanced analytical equipment and 34 specialized microbiology labs have been set up to detect chemical, heavy‑metal and biological contaminants. The Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (Food Safety on Wheels) programme now operates 305 vans across 35 states/UTs. Additionally, rapid‑test solutions such as the “Magic Box”, the DART book (44 household tests) and 88 approved RAPID kits enhance field‑level detection of adulterants.