FSSAI has issued a Gazette Notification dated 22 September, 2021 on the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Second Amendment Regulations, 2021 related to Tolerance limits of micronutrients. The FSSAI had made available the copies of the said gazette to the to the public on the 12 September, 2019. After receiving and taking into consideration the objections and suggestions the FSSAI has now made the following regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018.
Regulations
These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Second Amendment Regulations, 2021. They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette and food business operator shall comply with all the provisions of these regulations with effect from 1 April, 2022.
In the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018, in regulation 4 relating to “Compliance with Standards on Micronutrient Content in Fortified Foods” sub-regulation (1) as given below has been amended
(1) Any manufacturer who fortifies any food shall ensure that the level of micronutrient in such fortified food does not fall below the minimum level specified in Schedule- I.
Amended to the following
- Any manufacturer who fortifies any food shall ensure that the level of added
micronutrients on label of such fortified food shall fall within the range specified in Schedule-I. The tolerance of minus 10 per cent of the declared total value on the label may be allowed
for the purposes of compliance and analysis at any point in time. Provided that the maximum
limit of added micronutrients specified in Schedule-I must be complied with.”
About Micronutrients in Fortified Food
According to the W.H.O more than 2 billion people in the world today suffer from micronutrient deficiencies caused largely by a dietary deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Food fortification is a valid intervention that reduces the burden of micronutrient deficiencies and improves health in the general population. Food fortification is acceptable by most consumers as it does not change food habits or alter the characteristics of the food. Fortification with micronutrients is cost effective, safe and can bring nutritional benefits quickly to those at the risk of micronutrient deficiency. In most countries, food fortification includes vitamin fortification for folate, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin D and vitamin E and mineral fortification includes fortification with calcium, fluoride, iodine, iron, selenium and zinc. However, an obvious requirement is that the fortified foods have adequate amount of fortificants and within the limit as prescribed by food regulations.
Sorce : FSSAI
Reference
https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/guide_food_fortification_micronutrients.pdf
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