Lok Sabha Question No. 926 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Ban on Unsafe Food Additives
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Eswarasamy K

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.926 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH DECEMBER, 2025

## BAN ON UNSAFE FOOD ADDITIVES

## 926. SHRI ESWARASAMY K:

## Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of global scientific studies linking the food additives Azodicarbonamide (ADA), commonly used as a flour-bleaching and dough-strengthening agent in bread and Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), a preservative used in bakery and packaged food products, to potential health risk such as cancer, allergies and respiratory illnesses and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether ADA has been completely banned in countries such as the United Kingdom, European Union and Australia, while BHA is under strict regulation globally and if so, the reasons for permitting their continued usage in bread and other food products in the country;
- (c) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has undertaken any recent reassessment of permissible limits for ADA and BHA in view of updated toxicological evidence in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the fixed timeline for revising standards and ensuring strict enforcement and compliance from all food manufacturers and bakeries across the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay 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 Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011, use of Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is not permitted in any food product. Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA) is permitted for use in several food products including Bakery products. In bakery products, BHA is permitted at a maximum use level of 200 mg/kg. The use of BHA is permitted in view of the risk assessments carried out by global risk assessment bodies such as Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Further, Food Business Operators (FBOs) are liable to comply with the provisions of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. In order to ensure compliance with the prescribed standards, limits, and other statutory requirements under the FSS Act and Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), FSSAI through State/UT authorities, regional offices, and food safety departments, undertakes regular localized or targeted enforcement and surveillance activities.

In case of any deviations, appropriate regulatory and punitive actions have been taken against the defaulting FBOs as per the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006 and the rules framed thereunder.

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