"Regulating the Journey: A Socio-Legal Analysis of Transportation’s Impact on Food Shelf-Life, Safety, and Consumer Protection"

The article critically examines the socio-legal aspects of food transportation in India and focuses on the direct & indirect effects on safety rules and shelf life of consumer protection. This study evaluates how technical limitations, regulatory fragmentation, and insufficient infrastructure compromise food integrity during transit based on recent enforcement patterns in the year 2021-2025 and statutory structure under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The analysis uses comparative insights from international regimes such as the FDA (USA) AND EFSA (EU) to highlight best practices in cold chain logistics, traceability and legal accountability. Using both doctrinal and empirical approaches, the paper evaluates the effectiveness of India’s current regulatory framework, including the FSSAI’s licensing, inspection, and penalty system, and identifies critical areas for improvement. Furthermore, it investigates how digital solutions such as blockchain and IoT and Public-private partnerships could lessen food deterioration caused by transportation. Ultimately, the study governance prioritizes consumer welfare, producer equality, and sustainable logistics.