Oct 11, 2019
FSSAI launches used oil collection plan
Madurai: Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO), a programme spearheaded by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) aimed at disposing used cooking oil in an environmentally safe way, was launched at a private city college on Thursday.
Food safety officials, representatives of Madurai district hoteliers association and oil manufacturers association took part in the launch, which took place in the presence of about 500 students of Lady Doak College. The purpose of the scheme is to make sure that the cooking oil used by bulk users such as hotels, snacks manufacturers and bakeries do not enter into the system again. Often such used cooking oil is sold at a cheaper rate to small eateries or disposed of in an environmentally hazardous manner.
FSSAI prescribes the limit for Total Polar Compounds (TPC) to be a maximum of 25% beyond which cooking oils are unsuitable for use. The TPC level increases when oil is reused more than three times and the prolonged consumption of food prepared in reused oil can cause serious health problems like hypertension, liver disease and cancer. Designated officer for food safety, Madurai district, Dr M Somasundaram said that the programme was organized in the college so that they can reach out to a large number of families directly. A sticker released during the launch will be pasted at hotels from where used oil has been promptly collected by them. Hence, such hotels can be considered safe for the public. The oil collected will be sent to a private company, where it will be converted into bio-diesel.
President of Madurai district hoteliers’ association K L Kumar said that the programme will help to wean used oil away from the system. Though they used oil only once, they used to sell it. The used oils were purchased by roadside eateries, but now it will directly be collected by officials to be converted into biodiesel. “There are 300 members in our association and around 50 of them took part in the function. All our association members will render cooperation to the food safety officials to make this programme a success,” he said.
FSSAI to collect used cooking oil
Madurai: Food safety officials will launch Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO), an ambitious programme by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to manage used cooking oil in an environment-friendly way. The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that cooking oils used by bulk users such as hotels, snacks manufacturers and bakeries do not enter into the system again. Often, used cooking oil is sold at cheaper rate to small eateries or disposed of in an environmentally hazardous manner.
FSSAI has made notifications in Food Safety and Standards (licensing and registration of food businesses), First Amendment Regulation, 2017 in this regard. The regulations prescribe the limit for the Total Polar Compounds (TPC) to be a maximum of 25%, beyond which cooking oil is not suitable for use. TPC is the widely accepted parameter to determine the quality of cooking oil. TPC level increases rapidly when oil is reused more than three times. Prolonged consumption of food prepared in reused oil can cause serious health problems including hypertension, liver diseases, increased cholesterol level and even cancer, according to food safety officials.
Designated officer for food safety, Madurai district, Dr M Somasundaram told TOI that they will launch the programme in a few days at a private city college so as to drive the message to a large number of houses. “We have identified five big players involved in oil trade in Madurai and from them a list of bulk purchasers, who buy 50 litres of oil a day, has been obtained. Oil will be collected from them to make biodiesel out of it,” he said.
For every 50 litres of oils used, there has to be waste oil of 10 litres. The waste oil will be sent to a private company with which FSSAI has forged a tie up. An estimated 4 lakh litres of cooking oils are distributed from Madurai to various southern districts. The oils are brought in container trucks and packed here, another official from food safety department said. Dr Somasundaram said that a sticker will be pasted in hotels, where waste oil is being collected by the food safety department. Customers can rest assured on the safety of the food in hotels with such stickers. “We have found that some bulk cooking oil users had been selling waste oil at cheaper rate in the market. However, we are yet to find out where the waste oil is being utilized,” he said.
An insider from oil manufacturers association said that the oil lands up in roadside chicken and snacks shops. Not all roadside shops are at fault, but those which sell snacks at a cheaper rate are doing it to cut costs. Although a major proportion of oil reaching Madurai is palm oil, only a fraction of it is being sold under that name. The rest is sold as various other cooking oils like ground nut oil, gingelly oil and sunflower oil by mixing essence. According to the insider, this was how traders are keeping the oil prices low. “For instance, it will cost Rs 230 a litre to manufacture groundnut oil, but the oil is available in market starting from Rs 120,” he added.
Experts raise questions on FSSAI draft about conflict of interest
The draft is silent on many aspects which proves that FSSAI wants to remain non-transparent, they say
Experts have raised questions over the draft framework prepared by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to engage with private entities.
The food regulator has been facing a barrage of criticism ever since it took a decision over making food fortification illegal.
The draft itself does not provide enough clarity that can bring transparency into the system and revive consumer confidence. The FSSAI usually maintains a silence on issues such as checks and balances while dealing with civil society and private food producers and associations.
In the draft, the FSSAI has proposed allowing members to voluntarily declare a ‘conflict of interest’ or ‘recuse’ themselves before any meeting of the Food Authority and Central Advisory Council.
But it is silent on the type of ‘format’ to check voluntary declaration. There is a further question mark over the grievance redressal mechanism if one violates the declaration.
“The format should be like United Nations bodies like the World Health Organization or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which include the claims of participants to avoid conflict of interest,” Vijay Sardana, agriculture policy and trade expert, said.
According to media reports, FSSAI’s scientific panels are made up of experts who have strong links with food and beverages companies.
For instance, the Standard Review Group (SRG), which reviews existing food standards, identifies gaps and suggests changes, is currently made up of members from private food associations.
The draft proposes the inclusion of representatives from reputed consumer rights groups and civil society organisations in the SRG and other technical panels.
But it is not clear about what the nature of the civil society groups should be. “There are a number of civil society groups funded by multinationals, which are on the advisory board of the FSSAI. This is a direct conflict of interest,” Ashwini Mahajan, national convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, said.
“There should be a policy to see to it that no foreign-funded civil society groups are on any board of authority,” Sardana said.
Besides, the draft also proposes dissemination of information, training and education through private parties. Experts feels that this part should also be under the FSSAI’s control.
The draft proposes the setting up of laboratories on public private partnerships and the testing of food at laboratories certified by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
“There is the important question of putting the results of food tests in the public domain on which the draft is silent,” Sardana said. “The draft is silent on a number of aspects which indicates the authority wants to keep its affairs non-transparent,” he added.
The draft was released on October 4 and is open for public comments.
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