Consumers important, critical stakeholders in food safety, says Zagade

It is binding upon the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to devise mechanisms to involve consumers in the development of standards, because they are important and critical stakeholders in food Safety and are directly impacted by the safety of food in the country, according to Mahesh Zagade, food commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra. 

The role of the country’s apex food regulator, he informed, “The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established with two objectives - laying down science-based standards for articles of food, and ensuring the availability of food which is not only wholesome, but also safe for human consumption.” Zagade added, “Now under Article 16 of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, FSSAI will conduct surveys for the enforcement and administration of the Act in various parts of the country; search, collect and analyse relevant information relating to food consumption, the exposure to individual hazards, the incidence and prevalence of biological risks, contaminants in food and the residues of various contaminants.” 

“The authority will issue guidelines for the development of risk assessment methodologies and forward messages on health and nutritional risks to the stakeholders. It also mandates the establishment of a network of information and best practices in food safety. 

FSSAI has also proposed to ensure that the public, consumers and other stakeholders receive information regarding food safety periodically,” he said.