Lok Sabha Question No. 924 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Study on Packaged Snacks and Fast Foods
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: M. Selvaraj, Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 924 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07 TH FEBRUARY, 20 20

## STUDY ON PACKAGED SN ACKS AND FAST FOODS

## 924. SHRI M. SELVARAJ: SHRI V.K. SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to a study conducted by the C for Science and Environment (CSE) revealing that several packaged sna cks and fast foods sold in the country breach safe limits of salt and fat contents;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether similar exercise was carried out by Food Safety and Standards Authority of I (FSSAI) in the past, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the proposed Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations tho under discussion since 2015 ha s not become a law as yet; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said rules are likely to become a

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (b): Yes. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that Centre for Science and Environment ( CSE) study released recently has alleged that quantity of salt and fat in the samples tested were  higher than the threshold limits proposed in the raft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations.  Out of total 33 samples tested 'prepared food' samples where Frontof - Pack labelling is not applicable. As far as pre - p ck ged food items are concerned, the sample size (14 sample s) is too small and cannot be considered as representative of pre - packaged  food  industry  in  the  country.  Therefore,  the  data  published CSE is inadequate to draw any final conclusion.
- (c): FSSAI constituted an Expert Group on High Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFS ) products.  The Report  of  the  Expert  Group,  with  its  gist,  has  been  uploaded  on  FSSAI  website www.fssai.gov.in for the information of general public. The HFSS report is guideline docume for all the stakeholders and the consumer in rationalizing the consumption of Fat, sugar and through processed food products and thereby help reduce the burden of chronic diseases Indian population.

Contd…….

(d)  to  (e):FSSAI  has  notified  draft  Foo d  Safety  and  Standards  (Labelling  and  Display) Regulations, 2019 on 25 th June, 2019 for inviting public comments. Around 900 comments were received. In addition, industry associations also raised concerns on the specified thre salt, sugar and fat and requested to contextualise thresholds based on Indian scenario. Ministr Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has also requested FSSAI to constitute a Working Group review the thresholds.

The  concerned  Scientific  Panel  deliberated  upon  the  comments  and  recommended  to constitute a Working Group and to initiate a study to obtain market validated, categor baseline data for reviewing the thresholds. Accordingly, as per Scientific Panel's recommendation,  FSSAI  has  initiated  a  nutrient  threshold  study  to  assess    the  current market scenario.

………………….