January 2017: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in a recent order, has asked sugar factories to include the storage of molasses in its existing licences. The move is in line with the regulator’s concerns about the lack of hygienic storage conditions for molasses, a by-product of sugarcane which is further used to manufacture other food products.
Raising serious concerns, the order stated, “Audit authorities have also raised the issue regarding the lack of requisite storage conditions for molasses, which is then used as an ingredient for manufacturing of other food commodity.”
The order stated, “Regulation 3.7, Part II of Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licencing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011 mentions that the equipment and containers for waste, by-products and inedible or dangerous substances, shall be specifically identifiable and suitably constructed.”
Meanwhile, molasses is also regulated by other authorities. The order observed, “It has been learnt that the sale, distribution and use of molasses is also regulated under the licence granted by the State Excise Department.”
Hardeep Singh Dhillon, chairman, Bhogpur Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd, Jalandhar, Punjab, said, “The policies which are issued by the Centre have to be followed by the sugar industry, as these policies are not only restricted to states, but it also for the nation as a whole.”
“I hope that all the states will include the storage in their respective licences. Some of the state food and drug administrations (FDAs) have also communicated the order to the associations for better communication and ensuring enforcement,” he added.
Dhillon said, “Apart from state authorities, there are inspections conducted by the excise departments. Special inspections are undertaken by the state committees. Sugar manufacturers usually adhere to the laws to avoid any issues in this regard.”Based on the above citations from the regulations, the regulator has decided that it will ask the food business operators (FBOs) involved in the sugar processing business to secure licences under FSSAI for storage of molasses.
The order stated, “Accordingly, FBOs involved in the production/ manufacture of sugar may also be advised to include/endorse storage under the kind of business in their existing FSSAI licences and their storage may be inspected to ensure compliance with the above mentioned provisions and regulations.”
Moreover, molasses is used as the principal ingredient in the distillation of rum and as a humectant in jerky processing (slicing or forming the meat or poultry, marinating, heating, and then drying the strips). It is recognised as a superfood due to its vitamin content and also used in producing animal feed.
A food safety officer from FDA Maharashtra, said, “This order is a result of continuous warnings given to these sugar factories regarding maintaining hygiene for places where the molasses is stored.”
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