The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a comprehensive directive to all food business operators across the country, mandating the use of only food-grade and corrosion-resistant knives, blades and cutting equipment in food handling and processing operations. According to the advisory issued on June 15, 2026, FSSAI has come to notice that some food businesses were using rusted, corroded, chipped, painted, damaged or otherwise unsuitable knives, blades and cutting equipment during food handling, preparation, processing, slicing and packaging operations. The safety directive follows multiple field reports and inspections revealing that various food establishments continue to use deteriorated cutting tools during food preparation, slicing, and packaging. The advisory specifically targets restaurants, hotels, cloud kitchens, bakeries, catering services, food processing units, packaging facilities, and other food businesses to ensure compliance with prescribed hygiene standards.
FSSAI emphasized that such practices could lead to physical, chemical and microbiological contamination of food and violate sanitary and hygiene requirements prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. Food safety experts warn that corroded or chipped blades can shed microscopic metal particles directly into food items, while the pitted and cracked surfaces of rusty knives serve as structural breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and microorganisms that routine washing cannot easily eliminate. The regulations mandate that equipment, utensils and food-contact surfaces used in food handling, preparation, processing, packaging and storage must be made of food-grade, non-toxic and corrosion-resistant materials and maintained in hygienic condition to prevent contamination. The advisory specifically notes that knives with broken edges, cracks, peeling paint, or visible deterioration are no longer acceptable, with worn-out equipment requiring disposal rather than circulation.
The advisory directed all food business operators to ensure that only food-grade, corrosion-resistant knives, blades and cutting equipment are used in food handling and processing operations. FSSAI also mandated that businesses maintain such equipment in sound and hygienic condition and ensure they are free from rust, corrosion, chipping, paint, cracks, breakage or any other defect that could contaminate food. According to the advisory, rusted, corroded, chipped, damaged or otherwise unsuitable knives, blades and cutting equipment must be removed from use immediately and replaced. The newly issued directive reinforces the foundational hygiene and sanitary requirements already established under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. The advisory requires businesses to use food-grade, corrosion-resistant equipment and maintain regular cleaning, sanitization, and sterilization procedures at prescribed intervals to ensure ongoing compliance.
FSSAI stated that any non-compliance observed shall attract action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and regulations made thereunder. The regulator has directed Commissioners of Food Safety in all states and Union Territories, as well as its regional directors, to deploy local food safety officers for aggressive on-site inspections and ensure compliance with the provisions. State Food Safety Commissioners and FSSAI Regional Directors have been instructed to maintain strict vigilance over the physical state of kitchen utilities, with legal penalties and potential operational shutdowns awaiting businesses that fail to adhere to the mandate. The agency has also instructed state food safety commissioners, regional directors, and local food safety officers to strengthen inspections across all food businesses to ensure immediate replacement of non-compliant equipment. FBOs have been asked to put in place adequate cleaning, sanitisation and sterilisation procedures for knives, blades and cutting equipment at prescribed intervals.
