Food safety authority’s draft amendments include fatty acids composition in edible oil

NEW DELHI, JUNE 22: 

In a bid to curb misleading claims and adulteration in edible oils, the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has notified a draft regulation that sets standards for the permissible composition of fatty acids in various types of edible oils.

The amendments in the regulation have been introduced at a time when edible oil companies have been increasingly looking at launching blended oil products to woo consumers with various health benefit claims.

The food regulator said the draft FSS (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulation 2017 will pave the way for determination of the authenticity of edible oils by incorporating fatty acid composition in the standards. “Since the fatty acid composition is different for each edible oil, this amendment will go a long way in exposing and curbing two malpractices in the edible oil sector- adulteration of expensive oils with cheaper oils and misleading label claims on the composition of blended oils,” the regulator said in its notification. It is seeking comments from various stakeholders.

Ashwin Bhadri, CEO, Equinox Labs, said the new draft speaks about the percentage of fatty acids composition along with the different kinds of fatty acids founds in 20 types of edible oils besides their permissible limits. “This regulation will provide clarity to edible oil makers and testing authorities. It will also benefit consumers by bringing in transparency regarding the oil composition that they consume and ensure their safety,” he added.Organic food

Meanwhile, FSSAI also released a draft notification on organic food that aims to bring in a regulatory framework to ensure safety of such products as well their authentic organic status.

According to the draft FSS (Organic Foods) Regulations, any food offered for sale as “organic food’’ should comply with the provisions laid down under either the National Programme for Organic Production or the Participatory Guarantee System for India or any other systems notified by the FSSAI.

The draft regulation also mandates that such foods should convey accurate information on the organic status of the product and should carry a certificate or quality assurance mark, among other things.