As we all know, purchasing anywhere in India comes with a dilemma; while considering the booming mid-class in the country and the buzz around e-commerce platforms it is extremely hard to find truly ethical and high-quality goods. India lacks in keeping up with mark labeling and proper transparency.
Let’s dive into some main problems:
- Certification Never Worked
To address the problem, claim marks like certificates are issued; But in reality, India has very low enforcements alongside improper checks. Big Retailers provide low quality products that slab unverified stamps of approvals. In most domestic consumer issues, loopholes exist to exploit international shipping laws; this wretched system allows foreign manufacturers to bypass Indian quality controls and flood the market with substandard products.
- Food Adulteration Continues to be Common Practice
From adding starch to mawa (milk solid) to the use of pesticides in spices, food adulteration is rampant. Reports from India’s food safety have documented that around 20-25% of tested samples do not pass quality control thresholds. The problem is not limited to India only. In 2024, spice giants faced international outrage when their shipments were seized in Hong Kong and Singapore for containing ethylene oxide, a prohibited pesticide in food.
It is more than substandard goods—this is a matter of betrayal of trust. With every morsel of your masalas, snacks, and even sweets jeopardized, whom can you trust?
Bold Claims for Labels and Marketing, More Trouble Areas
“Immunity boosting” juices and “100% natural” shampoos makes it very easy to market products in India. Even more surprising is the lack of governmental intervention, because these products have no validation from scientific research. Recently, the FSSAI decided to outlaw “100% pure” and “natural” unless they are compliant with well-defined parameters. The reasoning behind such a decision was because too many brands were using them as mere marketing gimmicks rather than delivering any real benefits.
- The Redressal Maze
Consumer grievance redressal processes are long, tedious, and excruciating for all parties involved. Rural consumers are still largely uninformed on their rights and the processes that need to be followed for legally exercising them, which compounds the problem of case backlog within consumer courts. Moreover, owing to a lack of funding and cumbersome technological setups e.g. E-Daakhil, digital grievance platforms remain perpetually underfunded and sluggish.
“There are far too many people—more than 50% of the population, to be precise—who have grievances that remain unaddressed due to ineffective and inefficient consumer systems. Most surrender or opt for makeshift solutions,” shared the Forbes India journalist on 2025.
- Cheap Wins Over Clean
Low-tier products floods the market when prices are slashed or when there is a lack of government regulation. As a result, product safety and ethical standards are lacking. Risks multiply within the informal sector and substandard quality small manufacturers prevail.
So, What Can Be Done?
Better Enforcement
It’s not enough to have BIS or FSSAI on paper — we need routine inspections, surprise audits, and meaningful penalties for violators.
Smarter Consumer Education
“Jaago Grahak Jaago” has been around for years, but it needs a digital update. More real-world content, school-level education, and rural outreach can go a long way.
Support for Small Manufacturers
Not all corner-cutting is malicious — often, it’s because small producers don’t have access to quality labs or guidance. Government schemes that support ethical production, testing, and traceability (think QR-code verified origins) can bridge the gap.
Stricter Rules for Marketing
No more “natural” unless it really is. We need clear guidelines and active monitoring of what brands can say — and how they say it.
India has a lot of talent, tradition, and business sense. But good, ethical products need more than just good intentions. They need systems that work, markets that reward honesty, and customers who know their rights. The future can be better, but we all need to ask for more and accept less dishonesty, fewer shortcuts, and a little more honesty.