FSSAI launches criminal action against influencers over milk safety claims

INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated criminal proceedings against several social media influencers, accusing them of disseminating baseless and malicious content regarding the quality of milk in India. 

This move marks a significant escalation in the regulator’s battle against digital misinformation, which officials claim is designed to incite public panic and damage the reputation of the world’s largest dairy-producing nation.

While the FSSAI maintains that Indian milk is broadly safe, the crackdown highlights a growing tension between regulatory oversight and a digital landscape increasingly sceptical of food safety standards.

The FSSAI’s decision to file First Information Reports (FIRs) follows a series of viral videos questioning the integrity of both branded and unbranded milk.

The regulator alleges that these influencers often use “pseudo-scientific” claims to suggest widespread contamination—such as the presence of urea, detergents, or neutralisers—without providing empirical evidence or laboratory backing.

For the Indian dairy industry, this is not merely a legal skirmish; it is a battle for consumer trust. Large-scale cooperatives like the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which produces the Nandini brand, have already threatened similar legal actions against “misinfluencers” to protect their market share. 

The regulator’s aggressive stance signals that “fear-mongering” for engagement will now carry tangible legal consequences.

While the FSSAI is targeting misinformation, the underlying concern regarding milk quality in India is not entirely unfounded. Recent surveillance data and tragic incidents provide a sobering counterpoint.

In February 2026, 16 deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh due to milk allegedly contaminated with ethylene glycol, leading to a massive mandatory registration drive for over 2,000 local vendors.

Additionally, National surveys have historically shown that while “unsafe” adulteration (harmful chemicals) is statistically low, “non-compliance” with quality parameters (fat content and SNF levels) remains prevalent in the unorganised sector.

Also, there is a widening trust gap between the organised sector (cooperatives and private dairies), which adheres to rigorous FSSAI standards, and the fragmented unorganised sector, which handles nearly 60% of India’s milk and remains difficult to monitor.

The proceedings follow FSSAI issuing an advisory directing milk producers who are not members of dairy cooperative societies, along with milk vendors, to obtain mandatory registration or a licence before commencing or continuing their food business operations.

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