How to File a Food Adulteration Complaint in Odisha
If you have found adulterated, expired, or unsafe food being sold in Odisha, you can file a complaint with the Food Safety Officer or FSSAI, and also claim compensation through the Consumer Commission. Here is exactly how to do both.
By Advocate Debarchana Samal · 22 July 2026 · 7 min read
Understanding the Food Safety and Standards Act Framework
Every food business in Odisha — from a roadside vendor in Cuttack to a large retail chain — is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA) and regulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The law makes it an offence to sell food that is adulterated, unsafe, misbranded, sub-standard, or contains extraneous matter. If you have bought or come across food that is contaminated, past its expiry date, wrongly labelled, or clearly unfit for consumption, you are not helpless — the law gives you a direct path to both stop the business from continuing the practice and to recover compensation for what you suffered.
It is common in Odisha, especially around festival seasons and local markets in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and smaller towns, for sweets, milk products, oil, and packaged snacks to be adulterated or sold well past their safe consumption date. Many people simply throw the item away out of disgust, without realising there is a formal complaint mechanism that holds the seller accountable and can even get them compensation.
Step-by-Step: Filing Your Food Adulteration Complaint
Preserve the product, packaging, and receipt
Do not discard the item. Keep the remaining food, its packaging, batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, and your purchase receipt or bill safely. This is your primary evidence.
Photograph everything and get a sample tested if possible
Take clear photographs of the product, any foreign matter, discolouration, or expiry label. If you have access to a government-recognised food testing laboratory, getting the sample tested strengthens your case considerably.
File a written complaint with the local Food Safety Officer
Every district in Odisha has a designated Food Safety Officer under the Cuttack district administration. Submit a written complaint describing the product, seller details, date of purchase, and the defect found.
Lodge a complaint on the FSSAI online portal
File your complaint on the FSSAI Food Safety Connect portal (foodsafetyhelpline.com or the FSSAI complaints portal) or call the FSSAI helpline number 1800-112-100, attaching your photographs and details.
File a consumer complaint for compensation
To recover money — refund of the price paid, compensation for medical treatment if you fell ill, and damages for mental agony — file a complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Cuttack.
Evidence That Strengthens Your Complaint
The Consumer Forum Route: Getting Compensation
A complaint to the Food Safety Officer or FSSAI results in regulatory action — inspection, fines, or licence cancellation against the food business — but it does not compensate you personally. To recover money, you must file a separate complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Cuttack under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. You can claim a refund of the amount paid, compensation for medical expenses if the food caused illness, damages for mental agony and harassment, and litigation costs. There is no court fee for claims below a threshold, and the process is designed to be faster and less formal than a regular civil suit.
Penalties Food Businesses Face
Sub-standard or misbranded food
Consequence: Fine up to a prescribed limit under the FSSA depending on the nature of the violation
Regulatory penalty imposed by the Adjudicating Officer
Unsafe food causing injury or death
Consequence: Imprisonment up to life, and minimum fine of ten lakh rupees where death results
Criminal prosecution before the Special Court under FSSA
When You Need a Lawyer
You can file the initial complaint with the Food Safety Officer or FSSAI on your own. But you should bring in a lawyer without delay if the food caused illness, hospitalisation, or injury to you or a family member; if the seller or manufacturer denies the complaint and disputes your evidence; if you want to claim substantial compensation before the Consumer Commission; or if a big brand or company is involved and is likely to contest the case with its own legal team. A lawyer ensures your complaint is drafted correctly, your evidence is presented in the right format, and you do not miss procedural deadlines that could weaken your claim.
Critical warning: If you or a family member has fallen seriously ill after consuming adulterated food, seek medical treatment immediately and preserve all medical records — do not wait to file your complaint until you feel completely well, as evidence like the food sample and packaging can be lost or discarded in the meantime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as food adulteration under the law?
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, adulteration includes adding a substance that affects the quality of food, selling food that is unfit for consumption, misbranding a product, selling expired or near-expiry food without clear disclosure, and using unauthorised colours, preservatives, or additives. It also covers food packed or stored in unhygienic conditions that makes it harmful to health.
Do I need a lab test to file a complaint about adulterated food?
No, a lab test is not mandatory to file the initial complaint. You can file with the Food Safety Officer or FSSAI based on visual evidence such as photographs, packaging, foreign matter found in the food, or an expired date. If the matter proceeds further, the Food Safety Officer has the authority to collect an official sample and get it tested at a notified laboratory.
Can I claim money compensation, or only report the seller?
You can do both. Reporting to the Food Safety Officer or FSSAI triggers regulatory action and penalties against the food business, but it does not put money in your pocket. To claim compensation for the amount paid, medical expenses if you fell ill, and damages for the inconvenience, you need to file a separate complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
What penalties can a food business face for selling adulterated food?
Penalties under the FSSA range from a fine for sub-standard or misbranded food, up to imprisonment for unsafe food that causes injury, and life imprisonment or a minimum fine of ten lakh rupees if unsafe food causes death. Even without criminal consequences, the Commissioner of Food Safety can suspend or cancel the business's licence.
Do I need a lawyer to file this complaint, or can I do it myself?
You can file the regulatory complaint with the Food Safety Officer yourself, but a lawyer becomes valuable when you also want to pursue compensation before the Consumer Commission, especially if the food caused illness or injury, or if the seller or manufacturer denies liability. A lawyer helps draft the complaint correctly, gather the right evidence, and represent you if the matter is contested.
Victim of Food Adulteration in Cuttack or Odisha?
Advocate Debarchana Samal helps clients draft strong food safety complaints and pursue compensation before the Consumer Commission in Cuttack and across Odisha. Contact us for a confidential consultation.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate for advice specific to your situation.
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