How is the rapid growth of the food processing industry leading to food safety challenges in India? (Answer in 150 words)

Food processing is a 'sunrise sector' with an annual CAGR of around 6-7% and is largely in the MSME sector, SME domain. Through schemes like KISAN SAMIDA Yojana, FM-FME (formalization of micro-enterprises): - Mega food parks in Chennai and other food processing hubs and PLI scheme - FMCG companies scaling up to Haldwams in exports - Women SHGs to Lijjat Papad getting access to formal credit Leading to food safety challenges: - Adulteration of food and contamination due to poor manufacturing capacity, lack of industrial standards leading found in Nestle's Maggi, Patanjali wheat. - India's food processing in the informal sector so no proper SFS measure joker (Sanitary and phytosanitary standards) - India's accredition bodies lack capacity by ISI made Agmark have poor labour inspection and compliance. - Indian standards already below European standards, Codex limit of FAO not followed. - Exports of food processing rejected and dumped back in Indian markets by Hardirams in USA. - Certification, Nutritional standards not accurate due to poor lab testing infra. Need is for creating food processing infra to balance growth and health achieved SDG 2 and 3

— Dishant Amrutlal Nisar · AIR 19