The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which functions as India’s food regulator under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, is preparing to issue guidelines regarding the sale of ready-to-eat food wrapped in plastic. These guidelines aim to ensure that sellers uphold the quality standards of such food products, even when there is no information provided on the packaging.
As per the upcoming guidelines, shops will be required to provide customers with complete information about the product, including its expiration date, source of origin, and any other relevant details typically found on packaged food. This ensures transparency and enables consumers to make informed decisions while purchasing ready-to-eat food.
Ready-to-eat food refers to food items that are fully cooked and served without the need for reheating. This category encompasses a wide range of items including salads, burgers, vegetable puffs, desserts, sandwiches, and various other options.
Here are the guidelines:
- The quality of the food should be up to par.
- Shopkeepers will have to provide customers with information like the ingredients of the product, the source of the product, and the expiration date.
- The plastic wrap on the food should be food-grade.
As per the Zee Business report, authorities are exploring the development of a process to assist shopkeepers in determining the optimal best-before date for the product.
In a recent development, the FSSAI took action against Bournvita following concerns raised about certain health claims made by food business operators in the country. The FSSAI addressed these concerns to ensure compliance and accountability within the food industry.
To oversee the advertisement and assertions made on food products by food business operators (FBOs), the FSSAI has introduced a regulation called the Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements and Claims) Regulations of 2018. This regulation aims to prevent deceptive claims or advertisements and establishes that such practices are punishable offenses under Section 53 of the FSS Act of 2006.
Regarding misleading promises made by companies, the FSSAI has emphasized that any claims related to nutrient function or other functional benefits on food products must be substantiated by up-to-date and pertinent scientific evidence