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DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

FSSAI sets rules to check health supplement mis-labelling

FSSAI further said health supplements may be used to supplement the normal diet of anyone above the age of five years.

New Delhi: Health supplements cannot be sold as 'medicines' any more, with food safety watchdog FSSAI today announcing new standards for manufacturers of these products to check mis-labelling.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has operationalised with immediate effect new standards for eight categories of products, including health supplements and nutraceuticals.

FSSAI will now start granting licences and approve products manufactured based on the new standards, CEO Pawan Aggarwal said.

"Last year, we had issued draft standards on health supplements, nutraceuticals, food for special dietary use, food for special medical purpose, functional food and novel food. We have finalised this and operationalised with immediate effect," Aggarwal said.

The approval for products was stopped in view of Supreme Court direction to this effect last year. FSSAI will now start giving licences to companies and approve products that comply with new standards, he said, adding about 600 applications were pending with the regulator.

However, these regulations will be enforced from January 2018.

"Considering that the regulation is final, FSSAI has made the regulations operational with immediate effect in order to facilitate food business," the regulator said.

Under the new guidelines, FSSAI has specified that health supplements should not be sold as medicines and also fixed the permissible limits of various ingredients used in the products.

Every package of health supplement should carry the words 'health supplement' as well as an advisory warning 'not for medicinal use' prominently written, it said.

"The quantity of nutrients added to the articles of food shall not exceed the recommended daily allowance as specified by the Indian Council of Medical Research and in case such standards are not specified, standards laid down by the international food standards body namely Codex Alimentarius Commission shall apply," it added.

FSSAI further said health supplements may be used to supplement the normal diet of anyone above the age of five years.

Similar labelling and packaging norms has been prescribed for nutraceuticals, food for special dietary use, food for special medical purpose, functional and novel food.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said the operationalisation of this regulation will help greatly in resolving the issues confronting this sector and creating a conducive regulatory environment for the industry to operate."A period of a year has been provided to FBOs (food business operators) to comply with the provisions of the regulation. In the interim period, the industry will need to work closely with the Food Authority to ensure a smooth transition to the new regime," it said.

Preparing food? Follow these five key safety steps to prevent foodborne illness!

Foodborne disease is a common, costly public health problem.

New Delhi: Food safety is a major, yet continuing concern with recalls of food products and outbreaks of foodborne disease occurring at an alarming rate.

Unsafe food causes many diseases, ranging from diarrhoeal diseases to various forms of cancer. Foodborne disease is a common, costly public health problem, but it is preventable. Safe some basic safe steps in food handling, cooking, and storage can help protect yourself and your family from foodborne illness.

A safe, hygienic food supply not only contributes to food and nutrition security, but also supports economy, trade and tourism.

To prevent foodborne diseases and improve health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has created five basic steps to food safety at home. The core messages of the 'Five Keys to Safer Food ' are:

• Keep clean
• Separate raw and cooked
• Cook thoroughly
• Keep food at safe temperatures and
• Use safe water and raw materials

Practice these five keys at home and lead a healthier life.

32 Tonnes of Adulterated Chili Powder Seized

Police today seized 32 tonne of chili powder, which they suspect is adulterated, from two lorries near Penugolanu village in Krishna district today.

The trucks had taken a detour to escape police check-post, but were eventually intercepted.

"We seized the lorries as their drivers could not produce any relevant documents for the chili powder," said Sub-Inspector P. Sivaramakrishna.

The drivers were taken into custody while the powder and vehicles were handed over to District Food Inspector.

FSC warns FBOs against storage of Contraband tobacco products

Port Blair, Nov 25: All the Food Business Operators in A&N Islands who were involved in storage, stock, sale, distribution of tobacco products are hereby warned once again not to stock any contraband tobacco products in any place i.e; food business premises, their residential place and in any place on or behalf of the FBOs as that the Food Safety Officers along with the staff of respective District Administration and Police are in search and raid of shops and business establishment or on their residential places in A&N Islands. The Food Safety Officer u/s 41 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is empowered to search any place, seize any article of food or adulterant, if there is a reasonable doubt about them being involved in commission of any offence relating to food.

Further all Food Business Operators, Petty shops and hawking units are also advised not to sell contraband tobacco products and if found guilty, action under relevant sections of FSS Act’2006 will be initiated which includes closure of Food Business Units.