Do FDA Officials, Doctors Have To 'Taste Food' At Events Of Ministers, VIPs? What Rules Say

Published 26 June 2026 · politics

Do FDA Officials, Doctors Have To 'Taste Food' At Events Of Ministers, VIPs? What Rules Say Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 10:17 IST

Do FDA Officials, Doctors Have To 'Taste Food' At Events Of Ministers, VIPs? What Rules Say Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 10:17 IST The protocol covers a wide range of VIPs, from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Rapid Read The list of people covered under the protocol extends beyond ministers and government functionaries (AI-generated image used for representation) Before Before guests arrive at high-profile events attended by political leaders and dignitaries, food served at the venue undergoes a mandatory safety check. Under protocols laid down by the General Administration Department and the Ministry of Protocol, food inspectors from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and police personnel from the local jurisdiction are required to sample dishes before they are served to VIPs. The wedding of NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule’s daughter Revati and Sarang Lakhani recently followed the same procedure. FDA officials tasted every item on the menu, after which samples were collected, sealed and preserved in police records for 72 hours. However, the practice has sparked concerns among food safety officials, many of whom say frequent VIP assignments disrupt their regular duties.

Some officials claim a single deployment can stretch for nearly two weeks, while others say they spend three to four days every week on such assignments. “Are we guinea pigs to be experimented on? There are no travel arrangements made for us either," a senior food department official said, questioning the practice. Who Is Covered Under The Protocol? According to officials, the list of people covered under the protocol extends beyond ministers and government functionaries. It includes opposition leaders holding public office, such as Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, and even RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who does not occupy a constitutional post. Until about three months ago, teams deputed for food tasting also included doctors from government-run hospitals such as JJ Hospital and St George’s Hospital. However, medical professionals objected to the duty, arguing that their primary responsibility was patient care. “We should have done it a long time ago, but better late than never," said Sanjay Surase, medical superintendent at JJ Hospital, referring to the formal order issued recently ending the practice. Routine Work Affected, Say Officials FDA officials say the short notice given for VIP visits often leaves little room for planning.

Deployments are not limited to large gatherings and weddings but also include visits by dignitaries to airport VIP lounges. “Four inspectors are unavailable for three to four days a week. It delays our routine work, but we make the reasons clear to seniors," a food safety officer involved in assigning inspectors said. Officials noted that visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah follow a different security protocol, with their own teams reportedly carrying out cyanide tests. Apart from tasting food, inspectors are also required to check packaged items at venues. One official recalled an event attended by Mohan Bhagwat in Mumbai where the distribution of laddoos was stopped because they were nearing their expiry date. “He likes to distribute sweets after an event. But the laddoos were near their expiry date, so we told them they could not be eaten," the official said. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said officers are expected to comply with existing government protocols and added that he has not received any formal complaints from his department regarding the practice.