If you want to know how to FSSAI license number search by name, it is important to understand which online facility can actually help you find food business details. FSSAI provides online services through its Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS), while its public verification facilities allow users to check the authenticity and status of an FSSAI Registration.
Many restaurant owners, customers, suppliers and business partners may need to check an FSSAI licence when they have only the food business name, restaurant name or other basic information. In some cases, the FSSAI licence number may also be printed on the licence certificate, food packaging, display board or other business documents.
This guide explains FSSAI license number search by name, how FSSAI licence verification works, what information you may need, how to check a food business, and what to do if you cannot find the required details.
An FSSAI license number is a unique identification number associated with an FSSAI licence issued to an eligible food business operator. FSSAI regulates food businesses in India under the Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations.
The licence or registration is associated with the food business and its premises. FoSCoS provides facilities for food businesses to apply for, manage and track licensing and registration-related services.
When you verify food business information, the licence details may help you identify information such as:
Food business name
FSSAI licence or registration number
Kind of business
Licence status
Date of issue
Other available business details
Publicly available licence information can be useful when checking whether a food business has an identifiable FSSAI licence or registration record.
The answer depends on the type of search facility you are using.
FSSAI provides a public licence verification facility through FoSCoS for checking FSSAI licence or registration details.
There is also an FSSAI Hygiene Rating search facility that provides search options including:
FSSAI License/Registration Number
Eatery Name
Pincode
This means an eatery name can be used in the relevant hygiene-rating search where the business is covered by that facility.
However, you should not assume that entering any business name on a general search engine will automatically reveal its FSSAI number. Business names can be similar, spelling can vary, and not every food business will necessarily appear in every public-facing search facility.
Therefore, if you are trying FSSAI license number search by name, use the appropriate FSSAI/FoSCoS verification facility and carefully match the business details.
If you know the name of a restaurant, food shop or other food business, you can begin by checking the available FSSAI public verification or hygiene-rating services.
First, write down the exact or commonly used name of the business.
For example:
ABC Restaurant
Sharma Sweets
XYZ Bakery
Fresh Food Corner
Green Valley Foods
Try to use the name displayed on the business premises, bill, packaging or other business document.
FSSAI provides a public licence verification facility designed to help consumers, businesses and authorities check the authenticity and status of an FSSAI licence or registration.
You can visit the official FSSAI License Verification page.
Depending on the facility, you may need an FSSAI licence/registration number or other business-related information.
For eatery-related hygiene-rating information, the FSSAI search page specifically provides an Eatery Name option along with licence/registration number and pincode fields.
If a result appears, do not identify a business solely from a similar name.
Check available details such as:
Business name
Location
Kind of business
Licence/registration details
Status
Other identifying information
This is particularly important when several businesses have similar names.
If the correct business record is found, note down the FSSAI licence or registration number for future verification.
The number can then be used for further checking where the official verification facility requires a licence or registration number.
Restaurants are among the businesses where customers commonly want to check food licence details.
Suppose you visit a restaurant called ABC Food Corner and want to verify its food licence.
You can start with:
Restaurant Name → FSSAI search/verification facility → Match business details → Check available licence information
The FSSAI Hygiene Rating facility provides an Eatery Name search option and allows users to search for eateries.
However, a restaurant-name search should not be treated as a guaranteed substitute for the licence number. If the business name is common, additional information such as location or pincode can be important for identifying the correct business.
The same question can arise for:
Grocery shops
Sweet shops
Bakeries
Food manufacturers
Caterers
Food distributors
Wholesalers
Food retailers
Restaurants
Cafes
Cloud kitchens
The important point is that business name search availability can depend on the particular public FSSAI facility.
If you already have the FSSAI licence or registration number, verification becomes more straightforward because the number is a specific identifier.
If you already have the FSSAI number, you can use FSSAI's licence verification facility.
FSSAI states that its public FoSCoS verification facility helps consumers, businesses and authorities check the authenticity and status of an FSSAI licence or registration.
You can use the official FoSCoS portal for food licensing and registration services.
A typical verification process involves:
Open the relevant FSSAI verification facility.
Enter the available licence or registration information.
Submit the search.
Review the result.
Match the business details.
Check the displayed status and other available information.
FoSCoS currently identifies the existing licence/registration number as a 14-digit number and also uses a 17-digit application reference number for relevant login/application functions.
People sometimes confuse the FSSAI licence number with the application reference number.
They are not necessarily the same.
This is the number associated with the issued food licence or registration.
This is associated with an application and can be used for application-related tracking or processes.
FoSCoS states that existing users can log in using a 14-digit licence/registration number or a 17-digit application reference number.
Therefore, if you are trying to verify an existing food licence, make sure you are using the correct number.
Depending on the particular public facility and record, available information can include details associated with the food business.
For example, publicly accessible FoSCoS licence records can show information such as:
Name of company/organization
Kind of business
Date of issue
Active/inactive status
Product-related information
Other licence details
A publicly accessible FoSCoS record demonstrates that such details can be displayed for individual licence records.
The exact information available can vary according to the record and the particular FSSAI service being used.
There can be several reasons why a search does not immediately show the expected result.
1. Business Name Is Different
A restaurant may operate under a popular brand name while its licence record may use a different legal or business name.
2. Spelling Is Different
Small spelling differences can affect searches.
For example:
ABC Bakers
ABC Baker
A.B.C. Bakers
These may not necessarily produce identical results.
3. Location Matters
If multiple businesses have the same or similar name, location or pincode information may help distinguish them.
4. The Facility Has Different Search Criteria
Not every FSSAI service offers the same search fields. For example, the Hygiene Rating search page provides an Eatery Name option, while the general public licence verification facility is designed around verification of licence or registration details.
5. The Business May Not Appear in a Particular Public Search
A failed search does not by itself establish that a food business has no FSSAI licence. The search facility, available records and information entered all matter.
If you do not have a copy of the FSSAI certificate, you can first try searching through the available public FSSAI facilities using the business name where that option is provided.
For an eatery, the FSSAI Hygiene Rating facility allows users to search by Eatery Name and Pincode in addition to the FSSAI licence/registration number.
If the business cannot be identified, try collecting additional information such as:
Exact business name
City
Area
Pincode
Restaurant/shop location
Business type
The more accurately the business is identified, the easier it may be to distinguish it from similarly named businesses.
Checking the number alone is not always enough.
You should also look at the available status information.
FSSAI's public licence verification facility is intended to help users check the authenticity and status of an FSSAI licence or registration.
A publicly accessible FoSCoS record, for example, can display a field showing whether a licence is Active/Inactive.
When checking a food business, compare the available record with the business you are actually investigating.
FSSAI licensing and registration applies across many types of food businesses, but the public search experience can vary depending on the service and record.
FoSCoS is the central food safety compliance platform used for licensing and registration services. FSSAI describes FoSCoS as a pan-India platform for food safety regulatory needs.
Businesses covered by the system can include different categories such as:
Manufacturing
Processing
Retail
Wholesale
Distribution
Food services
Restaurants
Catering
Other food-related activities
When applying for a licence or registration, the business selects its state and applicable Kind of Business (KoB). FoSCoS guidance explains that different premises and business activities can have specific licensing requirements.
Another common confusion is between FSSAI registration and an FSSAI licence.
Both relate to food safety authorization, but they are used for different categories of food businesses according to applicable requirements.
When searching online, you may therefore see terms such as:
FSSAI Registration
FSSAI Licence
FSSAI Registration Number
FSSAI Licence Number
Food Licence
Food Registration
For this reason, a search should not be limited only to the phrase "FSSAI license" if you are trying to identify a particular food business.
A mobile number may be associated with a food business's account or application, but that does not mean that the public verification facility is designed as a general reverse lookup by mobile number.
FoSCoS has different login and application facilities for food business operators. For example, its documentation describes login methods and application/registration identifiers separately.
If you are the business owner and have lost access to your account or documents, use the appropriate FoSCoS account-recovery or support process rather than assuming that a public search by mobile number will reveal the licence.
Customers may want to verify a food business before ordering food or purchasing packaged products.
This can be particularly useful when:
You are checking a restaurant.
You are evaluating a food manufacturer.
You are buying from a new food supplier.
You want to confirm displayed licence information.
You want to check available food safety information.
FSSAI's consumer services specifically include facilities for verifying FSSAI licence details.
The FSSAI consumer section also provides food-safety information, complaint services and licence verification facilities.
If you believe a food business is displaying incorrect information or you have a food-safety concern, do not rely only on a third-party website.
FSSAI provides a Food Safety Connect facility for consumer complaints. Its published FAQ explains that food-related grievances can be raised through the Food Safety Connect system, with a unique complaint number provided for tracking.
You can also use the official FSSAI contact channels. The FSSAI website currently lists the Food Safety Connect/helpdesk contact information, including 1800-11-2100 and helpdesk-foscos@fssai.gov.in.
When trying FSSAI license number search by name, avoid these common mistakes:
Google may show business listings, websites or social-media pages, but these should not be treated as official licence verification.
Always match the name and location before relying on a result.
A 17-digit application reference and a 14-digit licence/registration number serve different purposes in FoSCoS.
Business information can change. Prefer current FSSAI/FoSCoS facilities for verification.
Finding a number is only one part of verification. Where status is available, check whether the record is active or otherwise valid.
Here is the complete process in simple form:
Business Name → FSSAI/FoSCoS Verification Facility → Enter Available Details → Search → Match Business → Check Licence Details and Status
For an eatery, the FSSAI Hygiene Rating search provides an Eatery Name option, along with pincode and FSSAI licence/registration number fields.
For broader licence verification, FSSAI directs users to its public FoSCoS licence verification facility.
Food safety is important for both businesses and consumers.
For businesses, having appropriate food licensing or registration helps them meet applicable regulatory requirements.
For consumers, licence verification can provide an additional way to check the food business information available through FSSAI's systems.
FSSAI's consumer services specifically include licence verification alongside food safety information and complaint facilities.
However, licence verification should be understood as one part of food-safety awareness. Consumers should also consider hygiene, product labelling, storage conditions and other relevant information.
If you are a food business owner and need assistance with FSSAI registration, food licence application, modification, renewal or related documentation, you can first understand your applicable category and then use the FoSCoS system.
The official FSSAI website directs businesses to FoSCoS for food licence and registration-related services.
For professional assistance with the application process, documentation and form-filling, a private consultant or service provider may also assist. Any private service fee should be distinguished from the applicable government fee.
Searching for an FSSAI license number by name can be useful when you know the restaurant, shop or food business name but do not have its licence number. FSSAI provides public licence verification through FoSCoS, while its Hygiene Rating facility includes an eatery-name search option.
For the most reliable identification, use the exact business name along with available location or pincode information and carefully match the resulting details. If you already have the FSSAI licence or registration number, verification is generally more direct.
For official food licence and registration services, use the FSSAI website and FoSCoS portal.
1. Can I search an FSSAI license number by name?
For certain FSSAI public facilities, including the Hygiene Rating search for eateries, you can search using an eatery name. General licence verification is available through FSSAI's FoSCoS facility.
2. How can I find an FSSAI number using a restaurant name?
Use the applicable FSSAI public search facility and enter the restaurant/eatery name. If available, use the pincode or location to distinguish between businesses with similar names.
3. Where can I verify an FSSAI license?
FSSAI provides a public licence verification facility through FoSCoS.
4. What is the FSSAI license number format?
FoSCoS currently refers to a 14-digit licence/registration number.
5. Is an application reference number the same as an FSSAI license number?
No. FoSCoS identifies a 17-digit application reference number separately from the 14-digit licence/registration number.
6. Can I find an FSSAI number without the certificate?
You may be able to identify an eatery through the available public search facility using its name and pincode. Availability depends on the relevant FSSAI service and record.
7. Can I check whether an FSSAI license is active?
Yes. FSSAI's licence verification facility is intended to help users check the authenticity and status of an FSSAI licence or registration.
8. Can I search every FSSAI license only by business name?
Not necessarily. Search fields differ between FSSAI public facilities. The Hygiene Rating facility provides an eatery-name search, while general licence verification is designed around licence/registration details.
9. What should I do if I cannot find a restaurant by name?
Check the spelling, try the name used by the business, and use location or pincode information where available. You can also verify the licence number directly if the business provides it.
10. Where can I get help regarding FoSCoS?
FSSAI currently lists 1800-11-2100 and helpdesk-foscos@fssai.gov.in as contact channels.