Lok Sabha Question No. 2772 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Harmful Materials in Cold Drinks
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2772 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH DECEMBER, 2018

## HA RMFUL MATERIALS IN C OLD DRINKS

## 2772. DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

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

- (a) whether the content of harmful materials in cold drinks/products of various compani been found to be more than prescribed limits;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the actio n taken by the Government against guilty companies;
- (c) whether the Government has provided information to the consumers regarding such harm contents in cold drinks of these companies so that consumers could avoid usage of such pr and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to protect the common people from the ill effects said drinks?

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

- (a)& (b): Permissible limits of meal contaminants and insecticide residues for soft drink carbonated beverages are prescribed in Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins Residues)  Regulations  2011.  Standards  for  carbonated  beverages  (non - alcoholic)  h ave  been prescribed in sub -regulation 2.10.6 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards an Food  Additives)  Regulations,  2011. Food  Safety  and  Standards  (Packaging  and  Labelling  ) Regulations,  2011  provide  that  all  pre - packag d  food  have  to  compl y  with  all  the  relevant provisions  prescribed  in  the  regulations  such  as  list  of  ingredients,  list  of  food nutritional information etc.

All  manufacture s  of  carbonated  beverages  are  required  to  comply  with  the  standard prescribed  under  the  Food  Safety  Standards  (FSS)  Act,  2006  and  Regulations  thereund Implementation and enforcement of FSS Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations made thereunde primarily  l ies  with  State/UT  Governments.  To  ensure  the  availability  of  safe  and  wholeso food,  regular  surveillance,  monitoring,  inspection  and  random  sampling  of  food  product being carried out by the Officials of Food Safety Departments of respective States/U Ts to check

Contd……..

compliance of the standards laid down under FSS Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations ma thereunder. In cases where the food samples are found to be non - conforming recourse is taken to penal provisions specified under FSS Act , 2006.  FSSAI keeps a close liaison with States/UTs for effective implementation and  enforcement of the Act

As per information received from States/UT Governments, the details of samples of f items, including cold drinks, analysed , found non -conforming and action taken during the year 2017- 18 is Annexed .

(c)& (d): Consumer is being educated about adulteration and steps for reducing harmful eff of pesticides. To combat adulteration in commonly adulterated food items, such a s milk, spices and condiments, honey, water, Oils and Fats etc., the Food Safety and Standards Authori India (FSSAI) has also released a Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test booklet (DART) boo which is a compilation of common quick tests for detect ion of food adulterates at household level by citizens themselves so as to induce awareness among the consumers about food safe

## Annexure

| Year     | Number samples analysed   | Number of samples found non - conforming   | Number of cases which Civil/ Criminal cases launched   | in Number of cases Conviction   | of Cases of Penalty                     | of Cases of Penalty      |
|----------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------|
| Year     | Number samples analysed   | Number of samples found non - conforming   | Number of cases which Civil/ Criminal cases launched   | in Number of cases Conviction   | No. of cases in which Penalties imposed | Amount of penalty raised |
| 2017- 18 | 99353                     | 24262                                      | 15121                                                  | 5198                            | 7627                                    | Rs.25,23,75,367          |