The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all food businesses — including restaurants, cafés, dhabas, and street vendors — to clearly display their FSSAI licence or registration certificate at their premises. Alongside it, a QR code linking to the Food Safety Connect App must also be shown.
This step aims to help customers easily access food safety details and file complaints related to hygiene, safety, or misleading labels, as per FSSAI.
The QR code, now a mandatory feature on the FSSAI licence, must be placed in spots clearly visible to customers — such as at the entrance, billing counter, or dining area. By scanning the code with their smartphones, customers will be directed to the Food Safety Connect App, where they can check the outlet’s registration details or file complaints easily.
Once a complaint is submitted through the app, it is automatically sent to the relevant local authority for quicker action. This system is designed to reduce delays, speed up resolutions, and ensure greater accountability in the food industry.
In a statement, the FSSAI said the move is part of its broader effort to keep food safety a top priority for both businesses and consumers. “This measure is aimed at empowering consumers by providing them with a direct and user-friendly platform for grievance reparation,” the authority noted.
The Food Safety Connect App enables users to report hygiene or safety issues and check whether a food outlet is properly licensed or registered. It also provides updates on FSSAI’s food safety alerts and initiatives.
FSSAI has also directed all food businesses to add the QR code to their digital platforms — including websites and food delivery apps — so that consumers can verify details or file complaints while ordering food online.
This rule comes soon after FSSAI warned e-commerce platforms to follow food safety standards. These platforms must now clearly show their FSSAI licence or registration number on all receipts, invoices, and cash memos given to customers.
By making QR code displays mandatory at physical outlets and online platforms, FSSAI hopes to strengthen consumer trust and promote safety, transparency, and accountability across the country’s food and hospitality sector.