IASNOVA
FSSAI
In order to monitor the laws relating to food, the Government of India enforced the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 . The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (hereinafter referred to as “FSSAI”) is the authority for regulating food laws in India. FSSAI is responsible for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Guidelines for Fortified Foods
As per FSSAI, fortified foods are foods that help with the following:
- Foods that help prevent the risks of deficiency that are caused by the lack essential nutrients.
- Foods that help reduce the inadequate nutritional level in the foods.
- Foods that help in compensation with the required or recommended nutrients.
- Foods that helps the body maintain and gain health.
- Food that helps improve the nutritional quality of foods.
Under FSSAI, for a food to termed as a fortified food, it should be based on the scientific evidence of the need of the public.
Packaging and Labelling Requirements for Fortified Foods
While packaging and labelling fortified foods, the manufacturer must ensure that the following standards are followed:
- The packaging of foods should be in such a way that the nature and the effects of the shelf life of the nutrients added should be taken into consideration.
- All packages of the foods should have the words “fortified with (name of the fortificant)” and the logo imprinted on them.
- The food packages with Iron contents in them should have the statement “Not recommended for people with Thalassemia and people of low iron diet” imprinted on them.
- A nutrition claim can be made by the manufacturers and packers in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the rules can be made under the Food Safety and Standard Regulations.
Why in News?
FSSAI on August 2, 2018, brought forward the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018, (hereinafter referred to as “Food Fortification Regulations”) to regulate the provisions regarding fortified food,to be complied by January 1, 2019 .
Some of the important features of Food Fortification Regulations are as follows:
It prescribes the standards of addition of micronutrients for the purpose of food fortification.
The manufacturers of the fortified food are required to provide a quality assurance undertaking.
Packaging and labelling of the fortified food must state the food fortificant added, logo and the tagline “Sampoorna Poshan Swasth Jeevan”. Also, it should be in compliance to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011.
Fortified Food Logo-
