FSSAI to launch quality checks on food items such dairy products, fortified rice, spices

FSSAI to launch quality check of food items like dairy products, spices, fortified rice (Image: Wikipedia)

The food regulator FSSAI intends to conduct surveillance on other food items such as fortified rice, dairy products, and spices supplied in the country's market, after beginning an investigation into alleged violations of rules in branded spices.

According to sources, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) intends to surveillance foods such as fruits and vegetables, salmonella in fish products, spices and culinary herbs, fortified rice, and milk and milk products.

According to sources, the FSSAI does not regulate the quality of exported spices. Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) advised consumers and traders not to purchase or sell MDH's Madras Curry Powder (spice blend for Madras curry), Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, or MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder.

FSSAI is currently collecting samples of spices in powder form from all brands, including MDH and Everest, across the country in response to quality concerns raised by Singapore and Hong Kong. "In view of the current development, FSSAI is taking samples of spices of all brands, including MDH and Everest, from the market to check whether they meet the FSSAI norms," a source stated on April 22.

The CFS stated that samples of various pre-packaged spice-mix items from two Indian manufacturers contained ethylene oxide, a pesticide. The Singapore Food Agency has issued a recall of similar spices. Following Hong Kong's request, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) issued a recall of imported 'Everest Fish Curry Masala' from India.

Last week, the FSSAI announced that it was collecting pan-India samples of Nestle's Cerelac infant cereals, following a global report alleging that the business was increasing the sugar content of the product. According to reports, FSSAI conducts various pan-India monitoring on various food products to check the compliance status of imposed regulations.

The number of samples tested in recent years has increased significantly, from 1,07,829 in 2020-21 to more than 4,51,000 in 2023-24, representing a more than threefold increase. In 2020-21, 1,07,829 samples were tested, and 28,347 were judged to be nonconforming. In 2021-22, 1,44,345 samples were tested, and 32,934 were judged to be nonconforming.

FSSAI undertakes regulatory testing and monitoring/surveillance of various food products through a chain of food testing laboratories operating in both government and private sectors. The laboratories are notified as primary and referral laboratories. Presently, 239 primary food testing laboratories, 22 referral laboratories and 12 reference laboratories are operating in the country.

Within 2022 and 2023, 1,77,511 samples were examined with 44,626 judged to be non-conforming. Last fiscal year, 4,51,296 samples were examined. There has been an increase in cases filed and convictions, demonstrating the efforts undertaken by the relevant food safety agencies to enforce the FSS Act 2006.

Whereas in case of injuries caused due to consumption of unsafe food under section 59, from 59(ii) to sec 59 (iv), there is punishment with imprisonment from one year to six years, accompanied with a fine that may range from 3 lakhs to 5 lakhs, as applicable weighing the gravity of the injury. Further, where such failure or contravention results in death, the defaulter food business operators (FBOs) could be convicted with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and also with a fine, which shall not be less than Rs 10 lakh.

According to the FSSAI Act, samples that are found to be substandard or misbranded are fined under Sections 50 to 54 of the FSS Act, 2006, with a maximum penalty of Rs 5 lakhs for substandard food, Rs 3 lakhs for misbranded food, and Rs 10 lakhs for deceptive marketing.

If the samples are found to be unsafe, the food enterprises would be prosecuted under Section 59 of the FSS Act 2006, which provides for a three-month jail term and a penalty of up to Rs 3 lakhs if the failure does not result in injury.