Food Safety Agency updates list on products sans colours affecting kids

The UK-based Food Standards Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.

The list includes companies that have product ranges that have never contained the six colours and companies that have reformulated their product ranges to remove the colours. The colours, identified by a Southampton University study financed by the Food Standards Agency, are sunset yellow FCF (E110); quinoline yellow (E104); carmoisine (E122); allura red (E129); tartrazine (E102); and ponceau 4R (E124).

Another two manufacturers producing product lines free of the colours have been added to the list, they are J & I Smith (Bakers), and Groovy Foods Company.

The agency is publicising the product ranges to encourage the food industry to participate in the voluntary ban. The voluntary ban was agreed by ministers in November 2008.

Consumers who are particularly concerned about the presence of the colours should continue to check labels, especially in the case of products with a long shelf-life, where the availability of reformulated products may vary

Hotel bodies to hold workshop on understanding, implementation of FSSR

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) in association with Hotel & Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI) and National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) are organising a workshop on understanding and effective implementation of Food Safety and Standards Regulation (Licensing and Registration) on March 16, 2012, at PHD House, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi.
 
Renu Thapliyal, assistant secretary-general, HRANI, said, "Around 200-250 visitors across India are expected to come for the workshop. Officials from FSSAI and department of food safety, Government of NCT of Delhi and National Institute for Smart Government (NISG) will be present at the workshop."

According to her, topics to be covered at the workshop include creating awareness on salient provisions of the new FSS; Process of registration and licensing with FSSAI; Sampling procedures; Adjudication and prosecution under FSS law; Food safety management system, corrective and preventive action; and Legal overview of the Food Safety & Standards Act.

Among other things, the workshop will look at how the new regulation lays emphasis on ensuring corrective action through self regulation, and how premises where public is admitted for repose or for consumption of any food and drink or any place where cooked food is sold or prepared for sale comes under the gamut of this Act.

It will look at issues such as how since the implementation of FSSA on August 5, 2011, it has become obligatory on all food business operators to acquire licence under this Act either before the expiry of existing licence or by August 5, 2012, whichever is earlier.

The event will be beneficial for hoteliers, restaurateurs, HR managers, welfare officers, EHS managers, safety managers and officers, utilities manager, maintenance managers, facilities service managers, admin managers, food manufacturers, and caterers.

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