FSSAI has intensified the crackdown against the sale of adulterated Edible Oil after its Pan-India surveillance of both branded and unbranded oil samples. A quality survey was conducted across the country between 25th to 27th August 2020 in all States/UTs after which FSSAI has launched the crackdown.
It was for the first time that a nation-wide survey was conducted by the State Food Safety department officials. Over 4500 samples were taken covering a total of 16 varieties of edible oil and included mustard, coconut, palm, olive and blended oil. Various hilly and other difficult terrains like those in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Daman & Diu as well as Andaman (UT) have also been strategically included to be a part of this exercise, so as to represent a holistic distribution of the sample size across the country.
The samples have been drawn from hypermarkets/supermarkets as well as retail and grocery stores and include national and local brands. At least 50 samples were collected from the metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata while 6-8 samples were taken from non-metro cities and districts.
FSSAI had shared the detailed guidelines and SOPs for conducting the survey as well as procedure of sample collection with the Commissioners of Food Safety in all States/UTs. A video conferencing facility was organized to appraise them about the process and safeguards to be followed diligently at the level of States/UTs. A 24×7 communication facility via a common WhatsApp group was also created for the ease of officials involved.
A comprehensive strategy has been developed for testing of these samples through the State Food Testing Laboratories or FSSAI notified food testing labs and includes private NABL accredited labs. The labs will analyse the samples for various parameters including Fatty Acid composition as well as adulteration of any other oils or harmful or extraneous substance/ chemicals. The test results are expected in a month’s time.
The final survey results will help in identifying key hot spots for adulteration of edible oils in different parts of the country and will also strengthen efforts of the States/UT level devising targeted enforcement drives in the coming months. The whole exercise is aimed at ensuring availability of pure and safe mustard and other edible vegetable oils in the country.
Source : FSSAI
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