Lok Sabha Question No. 3007 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-06
Subject: Incidence of Food Contamination
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3007 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH DECEMBER, 2019

## INCIDENCE OF FOOD CO NTAMINATION

## 3007. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

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

- (a)  whether  it  is  true  that  as  per  a  report  by  the  Foundation  for  Millennium  Sust Development Goals and Thought Arbitrage, the total direct cost due to food and water b diseases in India was estimated to be Rs. 7.3 lakh crore in 2016 - 17 and coul d touch Rs. 9.5 lakh crore mark by 2022 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the causes of high incidence of food contamination and the diseases emanating from it;
- (c) the steps taken to ensure food safety in India?

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

- (a) : Foundation for Millennium Sustainable Development Goals  and  Thought Arbitrage are private organizations and Government of India is neither aware nor party to the report.
- (b) : Food contamination can occur due to several factors. Certain contaminants like pest and  antibiotic  residues  above  maximum  residue  levels  (MRLs)  are  caused  by  irresponsi farming practices. Feed and fodder given to animals or weeds are responsible f or certain other contaminants  like  Aflatoxin  M1.  Chemical  contamination,  including  heavy  metals,  can  co from soil, environmental pollution etc. Growth of contaminants like bacteria, viruses and are caused by unhygienic conditions and non -storage of food at right temperature.

Food contaminants are responsible for a  number of food borne illnesses like stoma pain, vomiting, diarrhea and even long term health problems like neurological disorders et

- (c) : To  en sure  food  safety, Food  Safety  and  S tandards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI) has developedover 500 food product standards , eviewed and expanded standards for food additives that  now  has  over  9000  provisos  covering  350  additives  and  food  processing  aids harmonizing the standards of food addit ives with Codex Standards. FSSAI has also put in place a mechanism for approval of products which are not covered in the existing regulations.

FSSAI  has established a  robust food  testing      infrastruc ture  across  India  by  notifying adequate  numb er  of  food  testing  laboratories.  FSSAI  has  also  provided assistance  under  a Central Sector Scheme for strengthen ing of State Food Testing Labs. It is promoting self - testing by  consumers  through  simple  tests  w hich  can  be  conducted  at  home through 'Detect Ad ulteration  with  Rapid  Test ' (DART)  booklet which  is  available  on  website.  FSSAI  has announced a policy for adoption of Rapid Analytical Food Test ing (RAFT) Kit/Equipment/Method for  regulatory  purpose  (either  on  field,  in  laboratory  or  both)  w includes kits for analysis of milk including adulterations .

Samplin

FSSAI has revamped i nspection system by introd ucing risk based sampling and digital inspection called Food Safety Compliance through Regular Inspections and (FoSCoRIS ).

FSSAI hasreviewed and ad opted revised hygiene and sanitary requirements for various categories of food businesses. FSSAI is also provid ing training under Food Safety Training and Capacity  Building  (FoSTaC)  programme  to fo d  safety  supervisors of  food  establishments regarding hygi ene and sanitary requirements to be observed in these establishments. More than 2.2 lakh food safety supervisors/food handlers have already been trained.

FSSAI has notified Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Audit) Regula tions, 2018 and  has  empanelled 24  audit  agencies  so  far  for  conducting food  safety audit  of  food establishments. Food Safety Audit of Centr al establishments dealing with ide ntified 6 High Risk categories of food products has been made mandatory.

………………