Latest news with #FSSAI
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Paneer found spurious, trader to face action, says health department
A week after the food safety administration of the health department seized 450-kg paneer from a shop in house number 714/2 of Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, lab reports have confirmed that the samples were unsafe and substandard. Following the test results, the department disposed of the seized paneer at the Municipal Corporation's waste disposal plant. The paneer was seized during a surprise raid at 7 am on June 11 which was stored in the shop as well as a vehicle parked outside the premises. The department has stated that appropriate action will be taken against the shop owner under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The department warned that anyone found selling or using substandard or unsafe paneer would face strict action. The department urged the residents to make purchases only from licensed and authentic sources carrying FSSAI licence. The residents have also been urged to report any suspected adulteration or quality issues to the department of food safety at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh, or lodge complaints through the FSSAI Grievance Portal at
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
UFlex introduces single-pellet solution for food packaging
UFlex has launched an FSSAI-compliant single-pellet solution, integrating recycled and virgin PET for food and beverage packaging, simplifying EPR compliance for brands. This innovation eliminates the need for mixing materials, aligning with new FSSAI guidelines mandating 30% recycled content in rigid plastic packaging by FY26. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Flexible packaging and solutions maker UFlex on Thursday introduced an FSSAI-compliant single-pellet solution for use of recycled PET for food and beverages new product integrates recycled PET with virgin PET in a single pellet, doing away with the need for manufacturers to buy and mix different materials to make bottles, containers or packaging materials, especially for food and single-pellet solution will be a game-changer for food and beverage brands striving to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance under the new FSSAI guidelines, Ashish Saxena, Joint President - Packaging Films Business at UFlex Ltd , said in a statement."As regulations become more robust, we aim to set the benchmark for responsible production and scalable, sustainable packaging solutions in India and beyond," he said, adding that the company's recent announcement of Rs 317 crore investment in two new recycling plants in Noida is a strong reaffirmation of its commitment to India's plastic waste management April 1, 2025, the new rules mandate that brands using category-1 rigid plastic packaging, such as PET bottles, incorporate at least 30 per cent recycled content by FY26, the statement said.
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
UFlex Introduces FSSAI compliant Single-Pellet Solution for Food Packaging
UFlex, India's largest multinational flexible packaging and solutions company, has announced the launch of its latest innovation, an FSSAI-compliant single-pellet solution for the use of recycled PET in food and beverage packaging. This innovative product integrates recycled PET with virgin PET in a single pellet of high purity and mechanical and thermal stability. The packages produced from this resin are of high clarity, strength, and lower acetaldehyde content. Importantly, this resin solution is compatible with existing PET manufacturing lines enabling a seamless transition to rPET without investing in any new infrastructure. Aligned with the recent FSSAI guidelines that support the Government of India's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, UFlex's single-pellet solution on offers a fully compliant, ready-to-implement op on for FMCG companies striving to meet their sustainability commitments. Effective April 1, 2025, the new rules mandate that brands using Category-1 rigid plastic packaging, such as PET bottles, incorporate at least 30% recycled content by FY26. The innovation complies with FSSAI's definition of Food Contact Material-recycled PET (FCM-rPET), which requires a validated decontamination process to ensure the material is safe for direct food contact. UFlex's solution meets both national and international safety standards, including approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). Commenting on the launch, Ashish Saxena, Joint President – Packaging Films Business, UFlex Limited, said, 'Since our inception, we have always been committed to pioneering sustainable packaging solutions. We are pleased to offer our latest innovation—the single-pellet solution, which will be a game-changer for food and beverage brands striving to meet EPR compliance under the new FSSAI guidelines. Our recent announcement of ₹317 crore investment in two new recycling plants in Noida is a strong reaffirmation of our commitment to India's plastic waste management vision. As regulations become more robust, we aim to set the benchmark for responsible production and scalable, sustainable packaging solutions in India and beyond.' UFlex is the first and only Indian company to receive USFDA approval for its technology and capacity to recycle all three materials: recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), recycled polyethylene (rPE), and recycled polypropylene (rPP) for use in food packaging. With a global recycling capacity of 72,300 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA), and an additional 39,600 MTPA set to be commissioned soon, UFlex has established one of the most robust recycling ecosystems in the industry. To date, the company has recycled over 5 billion post-consumer PET bottles, converting them into high-quality raw materials for sustainable packaging solutions. In FY25 alone, UFlex recycled 8,200 metric tonnes of mixed flexible waste, advancing its circular economy goals. It has established recycling plants across India, Poland, Egypt, and Mexico, processing a wide range of post-consumer plastic waste. It is the only Indian company working on innovative solutions for mixed flexible waste and PCR applications both in India and globally. For queries: [email protected]
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Food adulteration and its consequences on health
— Ritwika Patgiri Of late, a number of cases of 'fake paneer' products came to light highlighting a worrying trend of increasing food adulteration in everyday staples and posing severe health risks. For instance, in early April, reports from Noida found that 47 paneer and khoya products out of 168 food items tested by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) were contaminated. Fake paneer, also called 'analogue paneer' or 'synthetic paneer', mimics the texture and appearance of real paneer but is made from non-dairy ingredients and costs nearly half of the real paneer. However, this is not the only case of food adulteration in India. According to data recently shared by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, 22 per cent of food samples tested in Tamil Nadu between 2021 and September 2024 were found to be adulterated. The data collected by food safety authorities across five southern states – Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka – also revealed that 15 per cent of the food tested in Telangana and 13 per cent in Kerala were contaminated. Overall, one in every seven food samples tested in the five states failed to meet food safety standards over the last four years, indicating the systemic nature of food adulteration in the country. Food adulteration is a process by which substances are either intentionally added to food items or food gets contaminated due to negligence or poor handling practices. Adulterants could be harmful chemicals or harmless fillers, which can be added at any stage of the production process. For instance, the dilution of milk by farmers or the mixing of edible oil with mineral oil are examples of food adulteration. The issue of food adulteration affected both organised and unorganised sectors. If the adulteration of milk-based sweets by small sweet shops during Diwali is a common local concern, big corporations have also been found involved in food adulteration. Evidence worldwide suggests that 57 per cent of individuals have had health issues as a result of consuming adulterated food. Food adulteration can cause a range of health issues, including digestive disorders, allergic reactions, nutritional deficiencies, weakened immune system, and chronic diseases like cancer and liver damage. While some instances of food adulteration, like mixing water with milk, may seem harmless, the larger public health impact tells otherwise. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted between 2019 and 2021, 32.1 per cent of Indian children are underweight, 35.5 per cent are stunted (low height for age), and 19.3 per cent are wasted (low weight for height). Around 41 million children in India have stunted growth. The survey also notes that milk and curd along with pulses and beans are more likely to be consumed daily by a majority of Indians compared to eggs, fish, or meat. Therefore, the dilution of milk has serious health implications, specifically in terms of key nutritional indicators, which remain poor despite the consumption of milk. Similarly, the dilution of pure honey with sugar syrup is more than just an instance of lowering the quality of food. According to The Lancet data, India has the highest number of people with diabetes estimated at 212 million. Unhealthy food and sedentary lifestyles are the major reasons behind this. Therefore, even seemingly minor adulterations such as adding sugar to honey can have long-term health consequences. The prevalence of food contamination raises an important question about food safety mechanisms in India. The FSSAI is responsible for regulating and overseeing food safety. Established by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the FSSAI conducts periodic pan-India surveillance of food products, especially staple food and commodities that are prone to adulteration. The theme of this year's World Food Safety Day, celebrated on June 7, was 'science in action', drawing attention to the use of scientific knowledge in reducing illness, cutting costs, and saving lives. The theme also underlines the responsibility of regulatory bodies like the FSSAI in combating food adulteration through scientific approaches. The use of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in food items in India can be mentioned here as a case in point. Despite scientific concerns, GM cottonseed oil – derived from Bt cotton, the only GM crop allowed for cultivation in India – is blended with other edible oils. However, this practice raises concerns due to the possible toxicity present in such oils. To address this, the FSSAI has mandated that any food item containing 5 per cent of GM ingredients should be labelled accordingly. However, quantifying the percentage of GM ingredients in food is challenging and expensive, making the labeling system dependent on self-declaration by manufacturers. This makes FSSAI's role even more crucial in ensuring transparency and protecting consumers' right to know what they are consuming. The case of organic food presents similar challenges. The FSSAI mandates that certified organic food must be free from any residues of insecticides and should be labelled accordingly. However, there's no clear labelling for uncertified or substandard organic products. According to the Organic India Market Report of 2022, organic food in India has witnessed a yearly growth of 25 per cent, driven by growing awareness and purchasing power. Moreover, studies indicate that as consumers become aware about the health benefits of organic food, they are more likely to pay premium prices for such products. However, the consumption of organic food in India remains limited to urban, upper-classes because of such 'premium' prices as 'pure' organic food is mostly expensive. However, the lack of clear labeling of such products raises critical questions – who actually has access to 'good' organic food and who is more likely to be deceived by 'bad' organic food? In this context, FSSAI's role becomes critical. It may be argued that the first step in any policy response to food could address the question of who is committing adulteration and how it occurs. If unorganised sellers (like the local milk vendor or sweet shop) are diluting food items, the solution could focus on education, incentivization, and raising awareness. Profit maximisation has been found as one of the primary motivations behind food adulteration across organised and unorganised sectors. For instance, according to the health ministry records, three of every five companies have been found guilty of misbranding or selling adulterated food, yet many manage to escape without penalties. The low conviction rate has been seen as a major reason behind the persistence of such mal-practices. The lack of food analysts and testing laboratories are some other systemic issues behind the low conviction rate. Hence, stringent laws with a differentiated approach for the organised and unorganised sectors could play an important role in addressing food adulteration. Eventually, food safety is a matter of both health and awareness. In addition, given that the perceptions of food hygiene are also linked with caste and class, addressing the issue of food adulteration requires a nuanced approach rooted in differentiated understanding and public awareness. Why is food adulteration considered a major public health concern in India? What are some of the long-term health effects of consuming adulterated food? What role does the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) play in ensuring food safety? Why is it important to have different regulatory approaches for the organised and unorganised food sectors? How does the lack of clear labelling for organic and genetically modified (GM) foods impact consumer choices in India? Why is the self-declaration system for GM food labelling problematic? How does food adulteration affect the nutritional status of children in India, as seen in NFHS-5 data? What steps can be taken to improve food testing infrastructure and enforcement in India? (Ritwika Patgiri is a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Economics, South Asian University.) Share your thoughts and ideas on UPSC Special articles with Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. 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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
FSSAI to conduct registration camp, training for street food vendors in Coimbatore
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will conduct a special camp for street food vendors in Coimbatore on June 24, aimed at facilitating registration with the food regulator. FSSAI will also conduct a Food Safety Training and Certification (FOSTAC) session for food handlers and a medical check-up for them. T. Anuradha, FSSAI Designated Officer for Coimbatore, said that the ₹100 fee for the registration has been waived off for street food vendors. The registration with FSSAI is mandatory for food business operators with an annual turnover below ₹ 12 lakh. Those having an annual turnover above ₹ 12 lakh must obtain a licence from the regulatory body. The FSSAI has urged persons running roadside eateries to utilise the special camp that will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Suguna auditorium on Avinashi Road. For registration, applicants should bring a passport size photograph and Aadhaar card. For more details, contact food safety officer V. Kamaraj at 94866 54917 and trainer Sherif at 63699 02410.
