Lok Sabha Question No. 2087 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Mushrooming Processed Food Items
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Sarmistha Sethi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2087

ANSWERED ON 14.03.2023

## MUSHROOMING PROCESSED FOOD ITEMS

## 2087.  SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether the Government is aware of mushrooming of processed food items in market which are not of good standard and or being sold misleadingly as organically processed foods;
- (b)     if  so,  the  steps  that  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  availability  of  good  quality of processed food to consumers;
- (c)    whether  any  standard  criteria  has  been  developed  by  the  Government  so  far  as  marketing  of processed food items are concerned; and
- (d)     if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which was established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as per provisions contained in Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (i.e. FSS Act 2006), has been mandated for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate  their  manufacture,  storage,  distribution,  sale  and  import  to  ensure  availability  of  safe  and wholesome food for human consumption.

As per the FSSAI, for organic food items, the sellers and manufacturers of organic food products have  to  comply  with  Food  Safety  and  Standards  (Organic  Food)  Regulations,  2017.    As  per  this regulation, the organic food shall comply with all the applicable provisions of one of the two certification systems  namely  -  (i)  National  Programme  for  Organic  Production  (NPOP);  and  (ii)  Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS-India).  Further, the labelling on the package of organic food shall convey full and accurate information on the organic status of the product.  Such product may carry a certification or quality assurance mark of NPOP or PGS-India in addition to the FSSAI's organic logo 'Jaivik Bharat'.

Regular enforcement drives are also undertaken by FSSAI and State Food Authorities by drawing food samples including processed foods to take strict action against the offenders under the Provisions of the FSS Act, 2006.

(b) In order to ensure the availability of safe food products including processed food items to the consumers, the Regional Directors of FSSAI along with Food Safety Commissioner of States/UTs have been advised from time to time to keep a strict vigil by regularly drawing food samples and to take strict action against the offenders under the provisions of FSS Act, 2006. In cases, where the samples are found to be non-conforming to the laid down provisions of FSS Act 2006, Rules and regulations made thereunder, penal action has been initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators (FBOs) as per the provisions of FSS Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder.

(c) & (d) :   Under FSS Act 2006, the FSSAI develop science based standards for articles of food/food products including processed foods for compliance by FBOs and to ensure availability of safe food for human consumption.