Food Authority Imposes New Regulations: Forbidden Food Label Statements & Enhanced Inspections
Food Safety Action in India kicks off new regulations for the betterment of food safety and consumer transparency. These changes touch upon food packaging, marketing, and on-site food handling.
Lying on Labels is Out
Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has put a ban on more than 100 misleading health claims on food labels. Food manufacturers can no longer print phony claims such as:
- "Safe and sound"
- "Magical disease cure"
- "Insta-weight loss miracle"
- "Quick immune boost"
FSSAI considers these bogus and deceptive statements without concrete evidence. From now on, companies must provide scientific evidence backing any health-related claims displayed on packaging.
Transparent Labeling is Now a Must
The new standards state:
- All packaged foods must showcase their ingredients, allergens, nutritional info, additives, and other relevant details in a neat and readable way.
- Products must avoid camouflaging or twisting facts using puzzling graphics, oversized health symbols, or malarkey wordings.
- Labels must display expiry dates, storage instructions, and FSSAI license numbers.
This move promotes transparency and empowers consumers to make educated decisions.
Surprise Inspections Galore
FSSAI will now conduct random spot checks across food establishments and supply networks, covering:
- Food warehouses that package goods
- Grocery centers online and offline
- Bakeries, restos, and cloud kitchens
These checks aim to ensure that hygiene norms, storage practices, and food handling match national safety guidelines.
Strict License Games for Risky Foods
FSSAI is beefing up its licensing process for businesses that deal with:
- Infant food and baby formula
- Meat, seafood, and dairy items
- Health supplements and nutraceuticals
These businesses must now endure stricter inspections and frequent audits to hold onto their licenses.
The Lowdown for Everyone
For the consumers: Get ready for better quality products, straightforward labels, and fewer humbug health claims.
For food businesses: Follow labelling rules to the T, or face penalties such as fines, cessation, or loss of FSSAI permits.
- The new regulations in food safety policy and legislation aim to reduce misleading health claims on food labels, banning statements like "Safe and sound," "Magical disease cure," and "Insta-weight loss miracle."
- Transparent labeling is now required for all packaged foods, including ingredients, allergens, nutritional information, additives, expiry dates, storage instructions, and FSSAI license numbers, without using confusing graphics, oversized health symbols, or misleading wordings.
- Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) will implement surprise inspections across various food establishments and supply networks, including food warehouses, grocery centers, bakeries, restaurants, and cloud kitchens, to ensure compliance with national safety guidelines.
- FSSAI is strengthening the licensing process for businesses dealing with risky food items such as infant food, meat, seafood, dairy, health supplements, and nutraceuticals, requiring stricter inspections and frequent audits to retain licenses.
- Consumers can expect improved food quality, straight-forward labels, and fewer deceitful health claims, while food businesses must adhere to labeling rules to avoid penalties such as fines, cessation, or loss of FSSAI permits.
