Food safety is one of the greatest concern for any food regulatory body. From preparing and handling till storage of food items are involved in the procedure of food safety. There are a number of frequent decisions taken by these regulatory bodies for the sake of the food safety and eventually for our health too. Therefore, get to know more about the food safety news in India in the article below!
In the first highlight of food safety news based in India, India is planning on limiting trans-fat level in foods to 3% in the year 2021 and by 2022, it will be limited to 2%. Previously, the maximum amount of trans-fat allowed was up to 5%. The decision has been made up because of the negative impact of consuming trans-fat on human health as it is a form of unsaturated fat found in various food items such as Oil, fast food, a variety of baked goods, sweet dishes, margarine, and so on.
Excess trans-fat consumption is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, and a variety of other lifestyle diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), trans fat causes more than 5,00,000 deaths per year due to cardiovascular disease. WHO introduced an action package ‘REPLACE’ in the year 2018 in order to eliminate unhealthy fat from global food supplies by the year 2023. The statement by WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reads, “WHO calls on governments to use the REPLACE action package to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the food supply."
In another food safety news in India, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Chairperson Rita Teaotia has asked the regulatory bodies to be more vigilant in order to ensure food safety and quality. The concern was addressed during the inauguration of the fifth session of the Codex Committee on Spies and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) where she also identified the possibility of unscrupulous and deliberate adulteration of spices by substitution.
CCSCH was established in 2013 with the help of more than 100 countries to create and extend global standards for spices and culinary herbs, as well as consult with other international organisations in the standards development process. India served as the host country, with Spices Board India serving as the secretariat for the committee's sessions.
A debate on the protein ingredients has been on the news in terms of its functionality or nutrients in the Indian context which ended up with a lot of intriguing facts. India consumes sufficient amounts of proteins per capita, but it lags behind some developing countries. In comparison to other parts of the world, the proportion of meat, fish, and eggs is also significantly lower.
Not only that but simple diets, particularly at the bottom of the economic pyramid, do not provide sufficient protein, according to various public health surveys. There is more to the food safety news than just regulatory bodies’ concern. Therefore, stay updated with more such latest food safety news in India with FMT Magazine!
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