Food Processing: What FBOs Must Do To Succeed?

Ministry of Food Processing Industry in harmonization with some other organizations and Ministries is planning to expand India’s potential in the food processing sector. For this improvements are needed in

hygiene standards in food processing facilities

food safety and quality

agricultural waste utilization

enforcement of regulations

technology

Food processing is defined as a physical or chemical intervention that transforms agricultural or horticultural raw material. Preparation and processing techniques play a vital role in keeping away hazards in this long process from raw material to final food product. The food processing business operator must ensure that FSSAI laid down norms in preparation, processing or cooking of foods are effectively enforced so that hazards are eliminated. The steps to be followed begin at the raw material stage and continue into the whole process so that food does not get contaminated at any stage.

Since consumer safety is a prime concern there is a provision for penalty, if processed food is found to be contaminated. The industry must have safety systems and controls in place and must strictly enforce regulations. If any person, “whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf, manufactures or processes any article of food for human consumption under unhygienic or unsanitary conditions, shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to one lakh rupees”.

Adding preservatives and food additives are common in the food processing industry but these need to be added keeping the regulations in mind. Sometimes these additives could render the commodity toxic and unsafe if proper care is not taken. Articles of food cannot contain any additive or ‘processing aid’ unless it is in accordance with provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Processing aid is any non – consumable item which is used in the “raw materials & ingredients to fulfill certain technological purpose during treatment or processing and which may result in the non-intentional but unavoidable presence of residues or derivatives in the final product”.

Nutraceuticals have become an important food product in the food industry. Since FSSAI is still in the process of making standards for nutraceuticals, it rests on the manufacturer in the processing industry to ensure that nutraceutical ingredients are in line with regulations and food product approvals have been obtained. Since there is still ambiguity about the standards for nutraceutical products, the responsibility rests with the food processors of the existing products to use the label correctly. Herbals, medicines or ingredients that are not consumable extracts must not be labeled as nutraceuticals. Making tall claims about the efficacy of nutraceuticals on labels is also a practice that can mislead the consumer.

If all FBOs in the food processing industry address these concerns then they will continue to enjoy consumer confidence. Any shift in meeting standards or playing with consumer safety will damage the bottom line success of the food processing business.