Beer could feel FSSAI chill, soon

Regulator plans to bring alcoholic beverages on its radar by fixing standards
THE Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ( FSSAI) plans to bring alcoholic beverages also on its radar by fixing standards for drinks like beer, whisky, vodka, rum and wine. The regulator will come up with a draft notification on standards of alcoholic beverages in the next two months that manufacturers will have to meet.
" Standards for alcohol are also being considered after packaged food products like Maggi noodles and various milk samples were found to have contained hazardous materials. As there are additives and preservatives in alcoholic beverages like wine and beer, it becomes important to keep a check on them as well,"an FSSAI senior official said.
" FSSAI is in the process of preparing standards for alcoholic beverages and the best global practices in this regard are being referred to. The draft notification will be put out to seek comments from the public,"the official added. The entire gamut of alcoholic drinks, including lighter varieties such as Bacardi Breezer, will come under the proposed standards.
In terms of packaging, the FSSAI has already proposed that alcoholic beverages, pan masala and supari may not be treated as unsafe food for recall just because FSSAI is in the process preparing standards for alcoholic beverages they carry a mandatory warning on their covers. It is mentioned on packaging of pan masala, supari and alcoholic drinks that their consumption is injurious to health. The proposal has been made in the Safety and Standards ( Food Recall Procedure) Regulations, 2015.
In the case of alcoholic beverages, pan masala, supari, the mandatory mention of warning consumption of alcohol/ pan masala/ supari is injurious to health, may not be treated as unsafe food as part of any recall plan unless the beverage or food is determined unsafe as per the classification of recall making it injurious to health or even causing death, the proposal states. These norms were put up for public comments on May 29 and the last date has been set as August 1.