Top Questions on Food Safety Answered by FoodSafetyHelpline Experts

Question. When a food product is packaged by a manufacturer of food products for another brand (Manufactured and processed by us and packed for and marketed under another brand name) , Is there a requirement to put the FSSAI number of the brand under which the product is marketed

Ans. Indian Food Labelling Regulations state that the FSSAI logo with the license number of the Brand owner has to be mentioned on the label of the food product. And for Manufacturer & Distributor/Wholesaler etc. only the License number to be mentioned on the label of the food product.

Question. A package of Masala Tea contains tea leaf/dust, cardamom, elaichi,cinnamon, …etc. Does it required to take Product Approval? OR it may be considered as proprietary food? A package of tea needs to write Nutritional information?

What is the difference between Product approval and proprietary food? Which food products required to take product approval and to be considered as proprietary food?

Ans. In our opinion, PA is not required in this case, reason, if you go by the definition of Tea; ‘Natural Flavours’ & ‘Natural Flavouring Substances’ which are acceptable for human consumption exclusively obtained by physical processes from materials of plants origin either in their natural state or after processing, may be used in packaged tea.

Yes, Nutritional Information will be required to be mentioned on the package of Tea.

To know more about the Product Approval Procedure, you may please click the following link for your better understanding: http://foodsafetyhelpline.com/food-product-approval-system/

Question. Is food safety Logo is mandatory on food package? if yes, under which provision of the FSSA Act 2006? Is Nutritional information is mandatory on food package of Supari ? if yes , under which provision of the FSSA Act 2006?

Ans. Yes, FSSAI Logo and License no. need to be declared on the Package of the food product. However, the compliance date for the same has been further extended upto July 1, 2015.

Nothing has been defined for the nutritional information on Supari but the labelling guidelines state that a warning in conspicuous bold print in a rectangular box should be given in the following manner:

Chewing of Supari is injurious to Health

Question. I have requirement of medical fitness certificate/ check list for new employe in food industry so plese me guide/ suggest or send what requirement for medical fitness as per FSSAI.

Ans. Please download the form for your reference:

http://www.fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/MEDICAL_FITNESS_CERTIFICATE(29-02-2012).pdf

Question. We applied for PA through online procedure for our food product.

Have queries:

1) Name of the company in application & uploaded documents are different.

2) Certificate of Analysis of each ingredient is uploaded whereas Ingredient specific Certificate of the products is required.

Ans. You can write to: productapp@fssai.gov.in or can call on 011-23237418 to know about the clarifications/details.