FSSAI has issued a direction dated 25th September 2020 regarding placing of Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) at Khoya Mandi for testing of adulteration in Khoya on the request of various traditional sweet manufacturers.
The FSSAI has written to the Commissioners of Food Safety of all the States and UTs as FSSAI has received representations from various sweet manufactures requesting the Food Authority to check the adulteration of khoya. They want that only khoya and similar loose products like paneer, milk chap etc. that are free from adulteration should be permitted to be sold.
In this regard, the FSSAI took up the issue with the CoPS, Delhi and it has been decided by the FSSAI to place the Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) in prominent Khoya Mandis of Delhi as a pilot project.
FSSAI has received a positive feedback on this exercise and accordingly, it has been decided to replicate the same across the country so as to boost consumer confidence about these products.
The FSSAI has requested Commissioners of Food Safety to carry out the similar exercise of positioning Food Safety Wheels (FSW) where available, on fortnightly or monthly basis in a random manner in all the prominent Khoya Mandis in all the States and UTs or on the basis of specific intelligent input, especially in view of the ensuing festive season.
The FSSAI has also requested the Food Safety Commissioners to share an action taken report with the Executive Director Compliance Strategy from time to time, preferably at the end of the month.
About Adulteration in Khoya
Authentic food testing for adulterants in khoya is a must for value assessment of khoya and for consumer protection. Concerns about food safety and compliance of food regulations have led to the development of various methods for testing and the Food Safety on Wheels will ensure immediate detection of adulterants.
Any addition of adulterants in raw materials and food items can be hazardous to human health and also lead to deprivation of essential nutrients in foods. Just for quick economic gains during festive season fraudsters carry out khoya adulteration. Most people are unaware that any kind of food adulteration is punishable under the FSS Act, 2006. If a food product is found unsafe, then the adulterant may be levied with a maximum fine of Rs.10 lakhs along with imprisonment.
Source : FSSAI
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