Food Safety Department Conducts 3,726 Inspections in Three Years

Shillong, India Aug 28, 2026 ALN: The Food Safety Department has carried out 3,726 inspections over the last three years to ensure that food sold to the public is safe to consume.

The subject came up for discussion in the Assembly today, with opposition MLA Rupa Marak of Dadenggre requesting further information on why the sale of Sting energy drink had been banned and then permitted again within a couple of days.

Minister Shylla stated that the Food Safety Department undertakes regular inspections and sampling as part of its statutory responsibilities. He mentioned that Food Safety Officers are required to inspect at least 10 food business operators every month, while collecting 10 regulatory samples and 15 surveillance samples.

Over the past three years, the department has conducted 3,726 inspections, tested 2,844 regulatory samples, and examined 5,741 surveillance samples, covering a wide range of products including milk, fresh food, meat, food grains, confectionery, water, and other items.

Shylla added that the department had also conducted surprise inspections and would continue its efforts to ensure food safety across the state.

The Sting energy drink was banned after media reports linked its consumption to the death of a 12-year-old boy in West Garo Hills. However, no causal relationship between the student’s death and the energy drink was found, leading to the lifting of the ban.

According to the medical report from the Civil Hospital, the student died from irreversible shock due to acute gastroenteritis (AGE), which led to acute kidney injury.

Shylla noted that a local newspaper reported on August 12 that a young boy had died allegedly after consuming Sting, an energy drink created in Vietnam and subsequently purchased by PepsiCo. The report went viral.

On August 13, a complaint regarding the incident was received, prompting the Commissioner of Food Safety to direct Assistant Commissioners and Designated Officers to take stock of the matter.

On August 14, the government imposed an interim distribution freeze and prohibition on Sting pending an inquiry, directing Food Safety Officers to conduct an immediate investigation.

The inquiry report from the Food Safety Officer in West Garo Hills was received late on August 14, concluding that no causal relationship had been established between the student’s death and the consumption of Sting. Consequently, the interim freeze and prohibition were withdrawn.

Shylla emphasized that the withdrawal of the restriction was a factual outcome of the inquiry and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the product. He assured that routine food-safety surveillance and sampling would continue.

Marak raised concerns about whether Sting carried appropriate warnings, noting that energy drinks typically contain high levels of caffeine and sugar, which may be unsuitable for children and adolescents.

Shylla responded that products entering the market must comply with prescribed food-safety regulations, and their ingredients and additives must remain within permissible limits.

Marak later informed the House that he had checked online and found a warning stating that the product was not recommended for children. He sought assurance that retailers would be prohibited from selling the drink to children and lactating mothers.

Shylla confirmed that if the warning was present on the label, it constituted a restriction under applicable requirements. He added that action against violations would be taken under the Food Safety Act.

According to Shylla, the mother of the deceased provided a written statement indicating that the child had never been fond of Sting. A doctor who recorded the child’s medical history also stated that the child had not consumed packaged food or drinks before the incident.

The minister mentioned that the Food Safety Department had increased sampling following the incident and sent samples of Sting from different districts to NABL-accredited laboratories. The government is currently awaiting the laboratory reports.

Shylla also noted that surveillance samples of the same drink had been collected before the incident, in April and May, and the laboratory reports available to the department showed compliance.

Leader of the opposition Dr Mukul Sangma urged the government to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of food-safety laws across the state. He warned that the issue extends beyond energy drinks, highlighting the presence of expired packaged food products in markets and the need for greater awareness among retailers, shopkeepers, and consumers.

Sangma called for a review of the government’s food-safety enforcement strategy, especially given the increasing availability of processed and packaged foods and the exposure of children to such products.