Food safety: number of scientific panels under FSSAI increased

Govt move will improve food safety measures

NEW DELHI, JULY 22: 

After the Maggi instant noodles controversy that hit the packaged food industry last year, the government has increased the number of scientific panels under the Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) and increased the frequency of their meetings.

In a written reply to a query in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Faggan Singh Kulsate said the government had taken steps to improve regulatory procedures to ensure safe and wholesome foods as well as to improve ‘ease of doing business’. “These include increasing the number of scientific panels under FSSAI and frequency of their meetings, harmonisation of food standards with international standards and laying down more standards,” the Minister said.

He was replying to a query on whether the government was aware that the trust deficit had increased between consumers and packaged food companies and the steps taken to bridge this deficit.

“Government is aware of the concerns of the food processing industries. All steps considered necessary for promoting the interest of consumers through availability of safe and wholesome food and growth of food processing industry are being taken by the government,” he added.

These steps include setting up and upgrading food testing labs and creation of infrastructure like mega food parks and cold chains.