Report

Today in Hyderabad, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) convened an important meeting with representatives from the Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) industry and rice millers. CEO Shri G. Kamala Vardhana Rao led the meeting, which featured honoured guests including Sri D.S. Chauhan, Commissioner & Principal Secretary to the Government of Telangana, along with other distinguished officials from the Food Safety and Consumer Affairs departments.

Highlights

During the meeting, the FSSAI CEO stressed the urgent need for stringent standards for FRK and the necessary compliance procedures for fortification. He mandated that all FRK manufacturers undergo third-party audits, warning that non-compliance would result in penalties.

The discussion also focused on the government’s fortification initiative, aimed at addressing common micronutrient deficiencies, such as anaemia, within the Indian population. As the national food regulator, FSSAI has established guidelines for FRK and FRK premixes to ensure quality, requiring batch-wise testing.

Recently, the Prime Minister introduced 109 new high-yielding and nutritionally fortified crop varieties. The importance of bioavailability in FRK was also highlighted. Currently, more than 900 companies in India are involved in FRK production.

Participants raised concerns about recent non-compliance reports regarding manufacturing practices and documentation. Commissioner D.S. Chauhan noted challenges in executing rice fortification initiatives, including contamination, adulteration, and hygiene issues. He observed similarities in products, particularly with rice and tea, and praised the superior quality of Telangana rice.

Commissioner of Food Safety Shri R.V. Karnan recommended district-level awareness programs and training sessions for manufacturers on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). He also emphasized the need to identify key locations in each state to establish additional laboratories for testing FRK samples, ensuring timely corrective actions in line with Food Safety and Standards Regulations.

The gathering fostered collaboration among officials and stakeholders to address production, quality assurance, storage, and testing challenges. The FSSAI CEO committed to resolving key issues faced by FRK manufacturers and millers.

Shared Dedication to Safe Food

In summary, the CEO reaffirmed the shared dedication of all parties to prioritize food safety and work together to ensure safe and healthy food for consumers across the nation.

More than 150 stakeholders attended the event, including representatives from Nutrition International, state officials, senior FSSAI officials, and members of the food and agriculture sectors.

FSSAI remains committed to discovering and implementing strategies to enhance food safety throughout India.

Source: Food Safety News