Society for Indian Bakers issues list of 29 GMPs for units to adhere to FSSA

Society for Indian Bakers has called upon all bakery units to adhere to the Foods Safety & Standards Act (FSSA). In this regard it has released a list of 26 good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for the sector referred to as the ‘ABC of FSSAI.’

The FSSA would treat the food processing sector with far more dignity than the erstwhile Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA), stated J N Kushawaha, president, the Society of Indian Bakers, and vice-president, corporate, Bikanervala Foods Pvt. Ltd.

In India, there are 85,000 bakery units of which 75,000 operate in the unorganised sector occupying 65 per cent of the market share.

In order to ensure that the bakery industry in the country would be able to stick to standards, the society has simplified the process with a check list. This would now be issued to all the manufacturers which are easy-to-refer and comprehend guidelines for day-to-day operations, he added.

The ‘ABC of FSSAI’ list calls for Applying and obtaining license; Attend food safety awareness meetings; Educate the staff on the Act; Exhibit food safety posters in the factory; Remove expired date goods because it is a health risk; Provide clean and proper uniforms; Conduct medical examination for all; Whitewash premises periodically; Use processed water for manufacture; Keep first aid kit at an accessible point; Take special attention in preparing the labels; Buy raw materials from reputed suppliers; Remove cobwebs regularly; Remove unwanted materials from the factory; Wash floors daily; Store all finished products safely; Take effective pest control measures; Mandatory use of gloves;  Keep on required packing material; Maintain records for stores and production; Keep all delivery vehicles clean; Compulsory hand wash; Provision of dedicated area to clean vessels; and Removal of spoiled products from factors.

If the list is displayed at all bakery outlets, it will create awareness on FSSA and the need to maintain good manufacturing practices, according to him.

The bakery industry in India is the largest of the food industries with an annual turnover of about Rs 3,000 crore. India is the second-largest producer of biscuits after USA. Bread, biscuits, pastries, cakes, buns and rusk are some of the bakery products fast catching up with the popularity trend in India. Almost 82 per cent of the share of bakery products accounts for bread and biscuits.