Key Update 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a new advisory directing food safety authorities to adopt eco-friendly and legally compliant methods for disposing of seized, expired, or rejected food. This move comes after reports of food waste being dumped in rivers and open areas, posing risks to both public health and the environment. FSSAI warned that improper disposal contaminates water and soil, spreads disease, and allows expired food to re-enter the market. The authority has strictly prohibited dumping food waste into rivers, lakes, or open lands.

Safe Disposal Methods

FSSAI instructed state authorities to coordinate with local bodies and ensure the use of only approved, environment-safe disposal methods:

• Use CPCB-approved incinerators and maintain proper disposal records.
• Dispose of non-recyclable waste in sanitary landfills with leachate control.
• Compost biodegradable waste or process it in certified biogas units.

Monitoring and Compliance

A Food Safety Officer must supervise each disposal process, record it on video, and conduct it in the presence of two independent witnesses. The officer must then issue a disposal certificate to the Designated Officer, who will share it with the Food Safety Commissioner and the concerned FBO. State authorities must identify authorised disposal facilities, coordinate large-scale disposals with Pollution Control Boards, and submit monthly compliance reports to FSSAI. Through this directive, FSSAI aims to ensure transparent, safe, and environmentally responsible disposal of unsafe food while protecting consumers and the ecosystem.

Source: Foodtech News