Food Safety and Standards Authority of India CEO G. Kamala Vardhan Rao has stressed upon the need for food business operators (FBOs) to adopt a rational approach regarding added sugars in food items. He stated this while addressing FBOs and other stakeholders at an event jointly organised by CII FACE and FSSAI on Friday.
“Emphasising on the issue of added sugars and artificial sweeteners in processed foods leading to serious health concerns such as obesity, FSSAI CEO said that rationale should be used in this regard by FBOs, particularly for baby food and food items for pregnant women and the elderly,” an official statement added.
Rao said that there was a need to improve hygiene in meat and fish outlets, particularly among street vendors. He said that food safety is the collective responsibility of vendors and regulatory authorities and also pointed out that that companies must focus on strengthening self-compliance.
He also said that “stringent regulatory action” will be initiated against non-compliant manufacturers, based on the enforcement mechanism by the Authority.
”India has emerged high in global ranking in terms of production capacity of various essential food products. FSSAI and its scientific panels and committees have ensured that FSSAI standards are at par or even better than global standards,” Rao added.
Raising concerns about microplastics, he emphasised that only food grade plastic should be used for packing prepared food.
In his address, he also raised the issue of pesticides in various agricultural commodities like tea, coffee and spices and said it’s an area of concern. FSSAI is focusing on generating an awareness regarding this, in coordination with all stakeholders, including primary producers, manufacturers, state food safety departments and the Union Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce.
The interactive session organised under the State Food Connect program on Friday in Hyderabad saw the participation of over 400 stakeholders.