Edible Oils & Fats
Codex defines Edible Oils & Fats as, ‘foodstuffs which are composed of glycerides of fatty acids’. They are of vegetable, animal or marine origin. They may contain small amounts of other lipids such as phosphatides, of unsaponifiable constituents and of free fatty acids naturally present in the fat or oil.
Vegetable Oils & Fats are extracted from plant sources and does not include any margarine, Vanaspati, Bakery shortening etc.
The FSSAI has specified the labelling requirements for edible oil and fats. The first criteria that FBOs need to follow is that expressions that exaggerate the quality of the product must not be mentioned on the package, label or in advertisements. You cannot use expressions like “Super-Refined”, “Extra-Refined”, “Micro-Refined”, “Double-Refined”, “Ultra-Refined”, “Anti-Cholesterol”, “Cholesterol Fighter”, “Soothing to Heart”, “Cholesterol Friendly”, “Saturated Fat Free.”
Each container of solvent – extracted oil or any de-oiled meal or edible flour which is packed for sale must have at the time of sale, written in English or in the Hindi Devnagri script the following particulars.
the name, trade name, if any, or or description of the solvent-extracted oil or de-oiled meal or edible flour, as the case may be
If the oil does not fulfill the standards of quality for “refined” grade solvent extracted oils specified in the regulations of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additive) Regulations, 2011 for Edible vegetable oil/Vanaspati, a declaration has to appear on the label in a type-size of not less than 50 mm which states.
“NOT FOR DIRECT EDIBLE CONSUMPTION” if the oil complies with the requirements of ‘semi-refined” or “raw-grade 1” grades of oils specified in the regulations Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additive) Regulation, 2011
“FOR INDUSTRIAL NON-EDIBLE USES ONLY” if the oil does not comply with the above mentioned requirements.
The label must mention the name and business particulars of the producer
The net weight of the contents in the container
The batch number, month and year of manufacture
These particulars above must be given with the accompanying documents if the solvent extracted oils are transported in bulk in rail tank-wagons or road tankers, or where de-oiled meal or edible flour is transported in bulk either for storage in silos or transferred to ship for bulk shipment.
Each container in which solvent is packed must bear the Indian Standards Institution certification mark at the time of sale by the manufacturer or dealer thereof.
Every container in which vanaspati, margarine, bakery shortening, blended edible vegetable oils, mixed fat spread and refined vegetable oil is packed should have in addition to other labelling.
(a) The name/description of the contents, “free from Argemone Oil”.
(b) The mass/volume of the contents.
Every container of refined vegetable oil shall mention on the label
“Refined… (name of oil) Oil.
If the oil is imported then the label must read as
“Imported Refined…. (name of the oil) Oil.
Every package that contains an admixture of palmolein with groundnut oil must display on the label
BLEND OF PALMOLEIN AND GROUNDNUT OILPalmolein…… per centGroundnut oil…. per cent
Every package that contains an admixture of imported rape-seed oil with mustard oil must mention on the label
BLEND OF IMPORTED RAPE-SEED OIL AND MUSTARD OILImported rape-seed oil…..per centMustard oil…….per cent
Every package of vanaspati made from more than 30 percent of Rice bran oil must display on their label that
This packet of vanaspati is made from more than 30 per cent Rice bran oil by weight
Every package containing Fat Spread shall carry the following labels
Milk Fat Spread
Use before………………..
Date of packing…………
Total Milk Fat Content Per cent by weight…………
Mixed Fat Spread
Use before…………..
Date of packing…………
Per cent by weight…………
Milk Fat Content………..
Total Milk Fat Content Percent by weight……
Vegetable Fat Spread
Use before…………..
Date of packing…………
Total Fat Content Per cent by weight……
A package containing annatto colour in vegetable oils shall bear the following label
Annatto colour in oil (Name of oil/oils) used
Every package containing an admixture of edible oils shall carry the following label, namely:—
This blended edible vegetable oil contains an admixture of
(i) ……………….% by Weight(ii) …………….% by Weight
(Name and nature of edible vegetable oils i.e. in raw or refined form)
Date of Packing………………
There shall also be the following declaration in bold capital letters along with the name of product on front/ central panel:
NOT TO BE SOLD LOSE
FSSAI had released as document on guidelines for the correct labelling of Canola Oil (Rapeseed Oil), where the apex regulator stated that the Imported Canola Oil should be labeled as:
‘Imported Rapeseed – low erucic acid oil’
‘Imported Refined Rapeseed – low erucic acid oil’
However, this advisory was challenged by the importers of the Canola Oil in the Bombay High Courtand the matter is under judicial consideration.
