Ensure safety, food processing industry told

The food processing industry in the State should come forward to taking the responsibility for ensuring all processed foods produced and marketed in the State meet the food safety and standards guidelines prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA). This kind of voluntary, rigorous, self-regulation from the industry will help the Food Safety Department focus better on encouraging and promoting the third aspect of food safety among the public, namely healthy eating, Commissioner of Food Safety T.V. Anupama has said.

She was addressing representatives of the State’s food processing industry at a seminar on ‘Making Kerala a Safe Food Destination,’ organised by the Kerala wing of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Monday. There can be no compromise on food safety parameters because it is directly linked to health issues, she said. Ms. Anupama said the shift from the old Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act to the new FSSA is a positive move and suggested that all food business operators (FBOs) familiarise themselves with Sections 26, 27, 28 of the FSSA which clearly delineates the responsibilities of FBOs.

“We have so far filed about 900 cases of food adulteration or sale of substandard food in Kerala. But in only less than 40 per cent cases have we been able to detect a deliberate intent to ignore or violate food safety and standards. Almost 60 per cent of the cases could have been avoided if the FBOs were fully aware of the relevant sections of the FSSA and had acted upon it,” Ms. Anupama said.