FSSAI has come up with clarification on Multi Source Edible Oil (MSEO) in Schedule II A of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. It prominently mentions the claims which may be used on labels or advertisements of edible vegetable oils. Notably, clause 24 of sub-regulation 2.2.1 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 specifies the standards of Multi Source Edible Oil (MSEO) as an admixture of any two edible vegetable oils where the proportion by weight of any edible vegetable oil used in the admixture is not less than 20 per cent.
The apex body of food safety and standards has received representations from stakeholders seeking clarification regarding use of nutrient function claims and other claims for edible vegetable oils which form part of the admixture in MSEO. To cap it all, it is to clarify that food business operators may make nutrient-function claims as specified for individual oils in Schedule-IIA of Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018 even in case of MSEO provided that the claims are restricted only to the major component of the blend, as illustrated below:
- If a blend has 70% of Oil A & —30% of oil B (but not less than 20%), nutrition-function claims specified only for Oil A can be made;
- If a blend has 51% of Oil A and 49% of Oil B, nutrition-function claim specified only for Oil A can be made;
- If a blend has 70% Oil A, 25% Oil B and 5% Oil C (being linseed or chia seed oils), nutrition-
function claim as allowed for Oil A and also claim regarding omega-3 to omega-6 ratio can be made.
Significantly, in case of MSEO whose component oils are of equal proportion (i.e., 50% each), only those specified nutrient-function claims that are common to both the oils can be made. However, in case the component oils of MSEO due to conflicting nutrient-function claims, no such claims can be made.
The clarification was updated on FSSAI’s website on November 17, 2021.
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