Banned and restricted substances
FSSAI banned products list (2026)
Last checked 3 November 2026
There is no single FSSAI "banned products list" , the prohibitions are scattered across the Food Safety and Standards regulations, individual orders and import notifications. This page gathers them: substances that may not be used in food, practices that are prohibited, labelling terms that are banned, and imports that are blocked, each with its legal basis and a plain-language status.
Reading the statuses. Banned means a regulation or order prohibits the substance or practice. Restricted means it is allowed within a limit or under conditions. Draft means a proposal that is not yet in force. Brand-specific actions live on the recalls and orders ledger.
Substances and practices
PFAS ban india
FSSAI's proposal to prohibit PFAS and bisphenol A in food-contact materials was published as a draft on 6 Oct 2025 with …
Non-permitted coloursSudan dyes
Sudan I, II, III and IV are not permitted food colours in India under the Food Additives Regulations and are prohibited …
All colours outside the permitted eightBanned food colours in india
Under the Food Additives Regulations only eight synthetic colours are permitted in food in India as of 1 Oct 2026; amara…
Caffeine capped at 300 mg/LEnergy drink caffeine limit
Under regulation 2.10.6 caffeinated beverages in India must contain 145 to 300 mg caffeine per litre and carry cautionar…
Import prohibited (since 2005)Chinese garlic import ban
India has prohibited the import of garlic from China since 2005 on plant-quarantine grounds, citing the fungi Embellisia…
Prohibited contaminant in edible oilArgemone oil
Argemone oil is a prohibited contaminant in edible oils in India under regulation 2.2.1 of the Food Products Standards R…
Prohibited ripening practiceCalcium carbide
Artificial ripening of fruit with calcium carbide, which releases acetylene gas, is prohibited in India under regulation…
Import prohibited (since Sep 2008)Chinese milk ban
India has prohibited the import of milk and milk products from China since September 2008, following the melamine contam…
Not a permitted treatment in foodEthylene oxide
Ethylene oxide is not a permitted sterilising treatment or additive for food in India; after Hong Kong and Singapore rec…
Non-permitted colourMetanil yellow
Metanil yellow is not a permitted food colour in India under the Food Additives Regulations and is prohibited in any foo…
Banned as a food additive (Jun 2016)Potassium bromate
Potassium bromate has been prohibited as a food additive in India since June 2016, when FSSAI removed it from the permit…
Non-permitted colour · state bans 2024Rhodamine B
Rhodamine B is not a permitted food colour in India under the Food Additives Regulations and is prohibited in any food; …
Permitted in India; banned in the EUTitanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide (INS 171) is not banned in India as of 3 Nov 2026. FSSAI's Appendix A lists it as a permitted colour wi…
Capped at 2% of total fat (Jan 2022)Trans fat
Industrial trans fatty acids are not banned in India but limited to 2% of total fat in all oils, fats and foods containi…
19 items banned (1 Jul 2022)Single use plastic ban
Nineteen single-use plastic items, including plastic cutlery, plates, cups, straws, earbuds, balloon sticks and wrapping…
Orders that ban a term or a category
| Brand / product | Action | Authority | As of | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORS banFSSAI order prohibiting 'ORS' in beverage brand names (Oct 2025) | Term 'ORS' prohibited on non-WHO drinks | FSSAI; Delhi High Court | 1 Oct 2026 | Notice / order |
| FSSAI banned liquorFSSAI prohibition orders on flavoured spirits: Old Monk, McDowell's, Royal Challenge, Bagpiper (Jun to Sep 2026) | Prohibition of sale · named facilities | FSSAI (Western Regional Office and others); Bombay High Court; Madhya Pradesh High Court | 1 Oct 2026 | Notice / order |
| Rajasthan energy drink banRajasthan energy-drink prohibition (Jul 2026) | State prohibition (Rajasthan only) | Government of Rajasthan: Food Safety (Medical and Health Department) | 3 Nov 2026 | Notice / order |
| SDP Industries gheeSDP Industries (Daman) ghee: sale of all variants prohibited (Aug 2026) | Sale prohibited until further orders (Aug 2026) | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Designated Officer, Central Licensing Authority | 3 Nov 2026 | Notice / order |
Banned or not? Foods people ask about
Brands and products often said to be banned, checked against the orders.
Most searched
The questions people search for most. Each answer links to its source.