What does the 14-digit FSSAI number on food packets mean?

Ever puzzled what that 14-digit FSSAI quantity on meals packages signifies?
Here’s a breakdown:
🔹 1st Digit: Approval Kind (1 = License, 2 = Registration)
🔹 2nd & third: State /UT Code
🔹 4th & fifth: 12 months of Situation
🔹 Subsequent 3: Authority Code
🔹 Final 6: Distinctive Licensee ID pic.twitter.com/4hgbyJJvzJ

— FSSAI (@fssaiindia) July 27, 2026

Knowledgeable weighs in

Edwina Raj, Head of Providers – Medical Vitamin & Dietetics, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, explains that the 14-digit FSSAI quantity in your meals packet is greater than only a quantity—it helps determine the meals enterprise liable for the product.

“I’d suggest making it a behavior to verify the FSSAI quantity together with the elements, vitamin info, expiry or use-by date and storage directions earlier than shopping for packaged meals, whereas additionally remembering that an FSSAI quantity doesn’t imply {that a} product is robotically wholesome or nutritious,” she tells indianexpress.com.

What occurs if the quantity is lacking?

She warns warning in case a packaged meals that’s required to have an FSSAI registration or licence doesn’t show the suitable quantity. “Consuming poorly dealt with or contaminated meals can expose you to dangerous micro organism, viruses, toxins, chemical substances or undeclared allergens, probably inflicting meals poisoning, abdomen infections, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache and fever, with dehydration,” she lists out.

The chance is much more possible in susceptible folks akin to youngsters, older adults, pregnant girls and people with weaker immunity, she provides.

Despite the fact that the absence of an FSSAI quantity by itself doesn’t show {that a} meals is contaminated, Raj believes it’s a good purpose to query the product and select a correctly labelled various.

Alternatively, Raj additionally advises folks to not confuse meals security with wholesome consuming, as a result of a product can have a sound FSSAI quantity and nonetheless be excessive in sugar, salt, unhealthy fat or energy.

“At all times have a look at the vitamin label and select meals that suit your dietary wants, and keep away from merchandise with broken or tampered packaging, lacking info or suspiciously altered dates,” she says.

verify your FSSAI license quantity on-line?

The one appropriate method to confirm an FSSAI quantity is thru the official FoSCoS (Meals Security Compliance System portal). Right here is how the method works:

Step 1: Search for the FSSAI brand on the packaging, normally on the again or aspect, and be aware down the 14-digit quantity printed subsequent to it

Step 2: Open a browser and go to foscos.fssai.gov.in, the one portal that needs to be used for this verify.

Step 4: On the homepage, click on on FBO Search and enter the 14-digit license quantity together with the captcha code proven on display, then hit Submit.

If the quantity is real, the portal will show the meals enterprise operator’s identify, premises deal with, kind of license both State or Central, validity dates, and the record of merchandise registered beneath that license. And if the quantity is pretend, incorrect, or doesn’t exist within the database, the positioning will present a “No data discovered” message.