Food safety regulator suggests limits for metals in food

The proposed amendments follow the controversy over the detection of lead in Nestle India’s Maggi noodles

New Delhi: India’s food safety regulator on Wednesday released a draft of proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011, relating to the presence of metal contaminants such as lead, arsenic, tin and mercury in food products and beverages.

The proposed amendments follow the controversy over the detection of lead in Nestle India Ltd’s Maggi noodles, which prompted an order to the company to withdraw the product from the market this month.

The amendments proposed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and put up on its website lay down permissible limits for metal contaminants in key product categories, including edible oils, packaged drinking water, milk, wine, assorted and canned eatables, juices, meats and fish, among others. The regulator sought feedback on the proposed changes. Companies and consumers can submit their views on the proposals within 60 days from the date the notification is made public, it said. While the date on the notification is 5 June, FSSAI made the draft available to the public on Wednesday.

FSSAI will also come up with a draft notification laying down standards for alcoholic beverages, such as whisky, beer, vodka and gin in two months, seeking comments from public, Press Trust of India reported.

Meanwhile, FSSAI is also stepping up for stringent checks for packaged drinking water, milk and milk products and edible oil across the country.

FSSAI’s move follows concern expressed by the standing committee of Parliament for consumer affairs over reports of milk adulteration. The issue was first discussed in January during the 13th meeting of the Central Advisory Committee of FSSAI.

On 19 June, FSSAI said it would constitute an expert group to regulate salt, sugar and fat in food products following a Delhi high court order. With this, several food categories such as noodles, burgers and carbonated drinks will come under the regulator’s scrutiny.