Centre to issue final notification on use of plant stanols and sterols

Mar 20, 2014 

The Centre will issue the final notification on the use of plant stanols and sterols in foods. This is a move that is expected to give an impetus to the novel developments in the areas of nutraceuticals, functional foods and dietary supplements. 

A communiqué from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), an agency of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, stated that under the fortification category of food product standards and food additives, phyto or plant stanol esters and sterols may be added to fat spreads, milk products, milk-based fruit drinks, fermented milk products, soy and rice drinks, cheese products, yoghurt products, spice sauces, salad dressings, juices and nectars. This would allow consumers to easily their consumption to a maximum of 3g per day. 

The draft guidance also stated that either one portion of 3g or three portions of one gram each would be added under Sub-regulation 48 of Regulation 2.4.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. 

Products containing phyto or plant stanols and sterols could be sold in single portions containing either maximum 3g or 1g of phyto or plant stanols or sterols, calculated as free phyto or plant stanols. If the products do not contain these, there should be a clear indication of what constitutes a standard portion of the food, expressed in grams or millilitres, and of the amount of phyto or plant stanols/sterols, calculated as free phyto or plant stanols, contained in such a portion. 

In the proposed notification, the addition of Trehalose (a non-reducing sugar found in plants, which is now permitted as an ingredient in foods like biscuits, bread, cakes, breakfast cereals, carbonated water drinks, carbohydrate-based and milk-based sweets like gulab jamun, rosogolla, peda, khoya burfi, macaroni products, noodles, pasta, confectionery, candies, icing, savouries and snacks) is underway. 

Label declaration under Sub-regulation 49 of Paragraph 2.4.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, for both these additives being permitted in specific categories of foods would also be notified to aid consumers with proper information.

Commenting on these regulatory developments, Dr D B A Narayana, member of FSSAI’s scientific panel, said that the final notification was likely to be mandated with a specific advisory label indicating the presence of plant sterols/stanols as well as Trehalose, as applicable, especially for a certain section of the population like nursing mothers and pregnant women who need to be cautious with the intake of such products in the interest of consumer information and safety.