Role of FSSAI: Food Safety and Quality Control in India

The FSSAI aims to monitor and regulate the quality of food and health-related practices. Not only does it monitor the manufacturing of the food but also sets standards for businesses that handle the packaging, labeling, processing and storage of the food products.

The FSSAI (The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) was set up under the Food Safety and Standard Act, of 2006. The FSSAI is governed by the Ministry of Health & Welfare. The pivotal purpose of creating the FSSAI was to set scientific standards for food items and to govern the various processes involved such as the manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food products, thereby authenticating the safe consumption of food for the consumers at large. The organization strives to exterminate toxic food substances from being available to the public, thereby making it possible for everyone to have access to safe and healthy food only.

The FSSAI not only regulates the preparation of food items but also concentrates on the packaging of the same, where it will reach the hands of the consumers. The organization instructs that the package should inform the consumer about the quality of the product enclosed in it. The consumer in short should be enlightened about the safety standards employed during the preparation and storage of the food item purchased. The FSSAI, by pursuing these practices, instills confidence in the customers’ minds concerning the products purchased.

The FSSAI has set stringent benchmarks for a variety of edible items and aims to apply and implement the same towards the respective products. The FSSAI has time and again proved that public health and safety are of enormous importance. The organization revises its methods periodically to eliminate malpractices such as adulteration and discourages the FBOs (Food Business Operators) from promising misleading claims to the consumers.

Role of FSSAI in Regulating Quality of Food Supplies

1. The FSSAI devices various regulations and sets standards and guidelines concerning food articles and sets a proper system to enforce the standards thus laid upon
2. Suitable mechanisms and guidelines are set to authorize various certifying bodies, that certify food businesses for food safety management
3. The organization works towards the establishment of procedures and guidelines for accrediting the laboratories that deal with the analysis of food samples. It also enlightens the public regarding such accredited laboratories
4. The FSSAI plays a pivotal role in offering uncompromising advice to the State Government and Central Government concerning drafting policies and directives, in areas that are directly or remotely related to eatables safety, health, and nutrition
5. The FSSAI is in control of gathering information concerning the consumption of eatables, the prevalence of biological risks if any, the presence of contaminants and various residues in food, analysis of emerging risks, and devising a rapid alert system to notify the authorities regarding the same
6. It creates an information network that spreads across the length and breadth of the country to make the information about food safety and health protection reach consumers. The public, therefore, has access to rapid and reliable information about the issues of concern
7. The organization conducts training programs for people who intend to get into related business
8. The FSSAI plays a vital role in establishing international standards for eatables safety like adopting advanced sanitary and phytosanitary standards
9. The organization strives to promote general awareness about eatables safety standards.

Initiatives Taken by the FSSAI to Keep a Check on Food Quality

• Swasth Bharat Yatra: A movement called ‘Eat Right India’ was launched by the FSSAI to create awareness among consumers about safe and nutritious food.
• FSSAI-CHIFFS: The initiative was a collaboration between FSSAI and CII-HUL (Confederation of Indian Industry and Hindustan Unilever) and was designed to foster collaboration between the scientific community and academia for food safety.
• Heart Attack Rewind: The initiative was led by the FSSAI to remove trans fats from India by the year 2022.

The FSSAI has also revised its methods and directives to suit public safety and consumption practices. For instance, the FSSAI prohibited the usage of vegetable fats in chocolates other than cocoa butter. The standards were later revised to accommodate vegetable fats as per international standards. Further, it stated that the percentage of vegetable oil that can be tolerated is 5% of the end product. It was made mandatory that the labels of the product must specify the quantity of vegetable fat used in the chocolate. Also, if the vegetable fat used was in addition to cocoa butter, then it must be stated on the package in bold letters that the product contains vegetable fat in addition to cocoa butter. The Foscos Fssai had also banned Maggi, which was found to have high lead content.

Responsibility of Customers

The customers must also be proactive in educating themselves about food safety and nutrition. Every possible care must be taken to see that packaged items are consumed before the stipulated date of expiry. They should also study the labels and ingredients printed on the packaging of the edible items. The FSSAI, on the other hand, must consult eatables consultants frequently to ensure food safety levels. Audits should be carried out regularly to check if the FBOs are complying with the various food standards. Regular communication has to be made with the manufacturers and consumers to ensure that they are on the same page to avoid misconceptions.

Conclusion

The FSSAI, thus clearly plays a vigilant role in monitoring and promoting awareness about safety. Further, it also acts as a strong liaison between the manufacturers and consumers.  Furthermore, the FSSAI food license has been successful enough to sensitize the customers about food safety. In a country like India, where awareness about food laws is in the rudimentary stage, the FSSAI  plays a subtle yet authoritative role in regulating related practices.