In its notification dated 5the June 2015, the FSSAI has proposed some amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2011. In this regard the Apex food regulator has invited FBOs to present their objections and suggestions duly accompanied with scientific evidence, if any. Once these amendments are notified in the Official Gazette the regulations will be called Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Regulations 2015.
The first change that the FSSAI has made is in regulation 2.2.2 that deals with “Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods” under ‘List of Ingredients.’ In the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2011 labelling declaration has been given for Edible vegetable oils/Edible vegetable fats. To this definition the FSSAI has now added or both hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil. So if you manufacture edible vegetable oils, edible vegetable fats whether hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, you have to mention the source of the edible oil such as mustard, oil groundnut oil etc. on the label.
A new category has been proposed for label declarations called Edible vegetable fat where you have to mention the type of vegetable fat that has been used in foods. If you have used any of these types of fats in food like interesterified vegetable fat, hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated fats, margarine and fat spreads, such as mixed fat spreads, vegetable fat spreads, then you have to mention it on the label.
The second change is in regulation 2.2.2 that deals with the labelling of ‘Nutritional information.’ In the 2011 regulation the label had to mention ‘hydrogenated vegetable fats or bakery shortening used – contains trans fats’ if hydrogenated vegetable fats were used in foods or in bakery shortening. However, according to the proposed 2015 amendment the quantity of Trans fat content and saturated fat content on the label has become compulsory. All foods which contain any type of fats, oils and fat emulsions including spreads as an ingredient shall have to declare the quantity of Trans fat content and saturated fat content on the label.
Regulation 2.4.2 deals with ‘Labelling of edible oils and fats’ was amended in June 2013. According to the 2015 amendment the following labelling is proposed to be omitted. You will no longer have to mention “contains trans fatty acids not more than —– percent by weight, and saturated fatty acids not more than —– percent by weight.”
To view original notification on FSSAI.
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