Tag: FSSAI

India to introduce ‘front of package label’ to help consumers make healthier food choices

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INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced plans to introduce front-of-package (FoP) labeling on packaged foods to help consumers make healthier food choices.  The move by the Indian food regulator is in response to concern over increasing consumption of junk food leading to obesity in youth and children in India.  According to a recently published study, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in India has increased rapidly in recent decades and is projected to worsen during the forecast period ending 2040.   According to the PLoS study, the prevalence…

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India food regulator FSSAI asks e-commerce companies to end classification of plant-based products as dairy

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INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed e-commerce platforms to delist plant-based products as dairy milk products in line with a government regulation that non-milk products cannot be classified and sold as ‘dairy’ products.  “The general standard for milk and milk products under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations clearly lays down guidelines for use of dairy in the nomenclature of products,” FSSAI noted.   “These regulations state that use of any dairy term for a product which is not milk or a composite milk product is prohibited and any such action is in…

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India’s advertising watchdog partners food safety authority to fight misleading claims in foods & beverages ads

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INDIA –  The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have partnered to bolster the fight against misleading claims in food and beverage (F&B) ads.   Advertising is seen as misleading if it involves false, misleading, or deceptive information that is likely to cause the average consumer to act in a way they might otherwise not.    Ads may also be considered misleading if important information that the average consumer needs to make an informed decision is left out.    Misleading advertising covers claims made directly to consumers by manufacturers, distributors, and…

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India’s food regulatory body extends timeline for compliance with commercial feed manufacturing standards

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INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the compliance timeline by commercial feeds/feed materials manufacturers to adhere with the standards prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) up to January 1, 2021. The regulated feeds are those intended for meat and milk producing animals and initial compliance date was meant to be July 27, 2020, indicates the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a GAIN report. The new compliance duration has been extended following requests from industry stakeholders as they deal with the…

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FSSAI calls for colour-coded labels for high fat, sugar foods

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INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has drafted several proposals in the new labelling regulations, mandating manufacturers to include red-color coding on labels of food containing high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt content levels. This requirement would be implemented in phased manner for a period of three years and aims to help consumers make healthier food choices. Also, the new regulations targets to bring to light composition of food products with a goal to ensure that citizens have access to and eat healthy food. “To make the…

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FSSAI proposes ban on junk food advertisements in and around schools

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INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has proposed a ban on junk food advertisements in and around school premises to protect school children from junk foods and unhealthy eating. This is in response to the 2015 directive from the Delhi High Court requiring the food regulator to enact regulations aimed at promoting safe and wholesome food among the school children. The draft regulations which awaits the health ministry approval seeks to ensure availability of safe, wholesome and nutritious food in schools. “We have proposed to put…

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FSSAI partners with US biotech firm to improve food testing capabilities

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INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) has partnered a United States biotechnology firm, Thermo Fischer Scientific, in a move that seeks to improve food quality and safety by enhancing food testing capabilities in India. The partnership will facilitate establishment of a state-of-the-art food testing center in Ghaziabad. Thermo Fischer is set to offer skills to analysts and also train food scientists in ways of conducting high quality food testing. “The upcoming Customer Solution Center (CSC) at Ghaziabad is equipped with advanced analytical solutions that will…

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India’s alcohol makers to include statutory warnings on liquor bottles – FSSAI

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INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced that alcoholic beverage makers will need to seek approvals from excise commissioners to adopt new labelling norms, including statutory warnings on liquor bottles. According to FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal, the new set of labelling regulations are expected to be fully operational in six months. Manufacturers have been given a six-months grace period to use unused labels and printed cans, which will then be faced out of the market if the set period elapses before they are…

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FSSAI eases higher yeast count restriction rules on craft breweries

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INDIA – The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has said it will allow craft breweries to continue making beer with higher yeast content, reversing the yeast count restrictions imposed earlier in February. The news come as a relief to micro-breweries in the country as craft beers have yeast content as high as 3 million CFU. FSSAI has also announced that it will provide drinks makers another six months for use of old unused labels and printed cans. “The Food Safety & Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 will…

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FSSAI to release traffic light food labeling rules for public consultation

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INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is set to release draft on food labelling regulations including traffic light labelling rules for public comments. According to an agency official identified by FoodNavigator, the draft of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 is still at the stakeholder-debate phase. The new rules are looking to include red labels to products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) as a way of encouraging healthier food choices among consumers. The review of the regulations took place…

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