The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued guidelines regarding the harmonisation of laboratory parameters for analysis of imported food samples. These have been finalised in consultation with the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore.
Following this development, FSSAI, in a communiqué via F. No. 06/QAS/2012 import issues/FSSAI to all referral and authorised labs, has stated that the order should come into effect immediately.
Imported food will now need clearance based on these guidelines, according to Dr Dhir Singh, director, QA&S, FSSAI, in the communiqué.
As per the FSSAI list, there are 37 categories of imported food with methods for standardisation. The details on the limits of contents and methods of analysis followed have been provided. The list of products covers processed baby food milk powder including cheese. Fat oils and fats covering crude palm oils, crude sunflower oil, rapeseed or mustard oil, crude degummed soyabean oil, RBD palmoline, and olive oil.
Further, all fresh fruits, raw sugar, poppy seeds, raisins, salt and spices inclusive of dry fruits’ nuts / betel nuts / curry powder / masala powder, saffron, split cassia, cloves mace, garlic powder, cereals and pulses, red and green lentils, fish and fish products, as also meat covering frozen, canned, and chopped products are covered.
There is also a category for additives like ammonium bicarbonate, monosodium glutamate, phosphoric acid, and enzymes. In the thermally processed fruits and vegetable products there are tomato paste, juices, squashes, besides, a sweets and confectionary category, which includes chewing gum.
Bakery products, fruit and vegetable products like dates, proprietary foods, flavouring substances, macaroni products, sweetening agents, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, dehydrated fruit and vegetable products, processed vegetables like olives in brine, flavouring agents, cereals and cereal-based products, culinary pastes and other sauces, carbonated and sweetened beverages and seasoning powders also form a key part of the list.
The FSS regulations dealing with microbiological parameters of milk and milk products mention the microbiological limits at production stage by the industry. But as per the regulations, no defined limits have been given for microbiological analysis of milk and milk products, and the parameters and limits for cheese samples have been those followed under the PFA Act.
The methods of analysis are based on directorate-general of health services, ministry of health & family welfare, and Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The guidelines are also in consultation with the norms of Bureau of Indian Standards and Alpha methods are based on American Public Health Association.
According to a section of the food industry represented by MTR Foods, ITC Foods, and Kohinoor Foods, the guidelines for imported products will put a check on the quality.
With the profusion of food retailers vending a variety of imported foods, the norms will now keep tabs on the contents, according to officials from the Karnataka Food Safety Commissioner’s office.
Following this development, FSSAI, in a communiqué via F. No. 06/QAS/2012 import issues/FSSAI to all referral and authorised labs, has stated that the order should come into effect immediately.
Imported food will now need clearance based on these guidelines, according to Dr Dhir Singh, director, QA&S, FSSAI, in the communiqué.
As per the FSSAI list, there are 37 categories of imported food with methods for standardisation. The details on the limits of contents and methods of analysis followed have been provided. The list of products covers processed baby food milk powder including cheese. Fat oils and fats covering crude palm oils, crude sunflower oil, rapeseed or mustard oil, crude degummed soyabean oil, RBD palmoline, and olive oil.
Further, all fresh fruits, raw sugar, poppy seeds, raisins, salt and spices inclusive of dry fruits’ nuts / betel nuts / curry powder / masala powder, saffron, split cassia, cloves mace, garlic powder, cereals and pulses, red and green lentils, fish and fish products, as also meat covering frozen, canned, and chopped products are covered.
There is also a category for additives like ammonium bicarbonate, monosodium glutamate, phosphoric acid, and enzymes. In the thermally processed fruits and vegetable products there are tomato paste, juices, squashes, besides, a sweets and confectionary category, which includes chewing gum.
Bakery products, fruit and vegetable products like dates, proprietary foods, flavouring substances, macaroni products, sweetening agents, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, dehydrated fruit and vegetable products, processed vegetables like olives in brine, flavouring agents, cereals and cereal-based products, culinary pastes and other sauces, carbonated and sweetened beverages and seasoning powders also form a key part of the list.
The FSS regulations dealing with microbiological parameters of milk and milk products mention the microbiological limits at production stage by the industry. But as per the regulations, no defined limits have been given for microbiological analysis of milk and milk products, and the parameters and limits for cheese samples have been those followed under the PFA Act.
The methods of analysis are based on directorate-general of health services, ministry of health & family welfare, and Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The guidelines are also in consultation with the norms of Bureau of Indian Standards and Alpha methods are based on American Public Health Association.
According to a section of the food industry represented by MTR Foods, ITC Foods, and Kohinoor Foods, the guidelines for imported products will put a check on the quality.
With the profusion of food retailers vending a variety of imported foods, the norms will now keep tabs on the contents, according to officials from the Karnataka Food Safety Commissioner’s office.
