Milk, water and edible oils are food commodities that can be easily contaminated. To circumvent any kind of food contamination, the FSSAI has asked all State Food Safety Commissioners to keep a strict eye on all these packaged products. There is likely to be an increase in surveillance of these and other packaged food products across all States in India.
Besides keeping their eyes open for contaminants food inspectors have been instructed to look out for any violations on labelling. It has been observed that many of the packaged products have not been labelled according to FSSAI regulations on labelling. In this regard FSSAI has recently sent notices to companies like Heinz and Kellogg’s to explain the labelling on some of their products. FSSAI has voiced its concern about how companies are misleading consumers through packaging and endorsements that are not exactly as per specified label requirements.
In fact the Apex regulator also directed the Food Safety Commissioners to collect random samples of all packaged food products so that they can be tested comprehensively. This will rule out the possibility of contaminants and keep the manufacturers also on alert so they can ensure their products are safe for consumption. The fact that some samples of ‘Mother Dairy’ milk were found contaminated with detergent sent ripples across the industry.
Though FSSAI has not named any specific brand but it has asked all food inspectors to keep a special check on foods that are consumed in large quantities by a majority of consumers. In fact some well-known brands like Tata Starbucks, Nestle and Ranbaxy have come in for some flak in the recent weeks and FSSAI has even rejected the product approval for some brands.
FSSAI would also like to see the States spread consumer awareness about food adulteration. Since the Maggie fiasco consumers have become somewhat alert about food adulteration though much more needs to be done in this direction.
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