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Research in food safety, hygiene and nutrition in focus at FSSAI workshop
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FSSAI amends Food Products Standards relating to Fatty Acids & Dietary Fibre & Labelling for Plant Sterol & Isomaltulose
The FSSAI has issued gazette notifications on 13 July, 2016 in which it has made the following regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. These regulations will be called the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Fourth Amendment Regulations, 2016. These relate to the use of ARA & DHA, Isomaltulose, and High Fibre Dextrin in various food products. The FSSAI has also amended Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and labelling) Third Amendment Regulations, 2016 on the use of Plant Sterol (Phytosterols), Isomaltulose, High Fibre Dextrin. These amendments shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
In Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 in the regulation dealing with FOODS FOR INFANT NUTRITION (2.9.1)
- In Infant formula and Follow-Up Formula-Complementary Food the FSSAI has permitted algal and fungal oil as sources of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Arachidonic Acid (ARA) from Crypthecodinium cohnii, Mortierella alpina, Schizochytrium sp. and Ulkenia sp. at the level of maximum 0.5 per cent.
- DHA of total fatty acids and ratio of ARA: DHA must be 1:1 minimum.
- If a claim related to the addition of DHA is made then the DHA content shall not be less than 0.2 per cent of total fatty acids.
Note: DHA and ARA are omega-3 and omega -6 fatty acids that are normally found in mother’s milk. Algae and fungus oils are vegetarian sources of DHA and ARA. DHA and ARA are being permitted to be added to infant formulas as they are required for the development of the eyes and nervous system of infants in the first two years of life.
In regulation SWEETS & CONFECTIONERY (2.7) in the category dealing with the following FSSAI has permitted Isomaltulose at 50 per cent. (Max) of the total sugars without adversely affecting the stability of the product;
- Sugar boiled confectionery
- Lozenges
- Chewing gum and bubble gum
- Chocolate
- Ice Lollies or edible Ices and Ice candies
In the regulation dealing with OTHER FOOD PRODUCT AND INGREDIENTS a new category will be added called Dietary Fibre (Dextrin –soluble fibre). This means glucose polymer of natural origin obtained by dextrinification, i.e. dry roasting acidified starch under specific conditions and further purified. The average degree of polymerization of Dietary Fibre (Dextrin – soluble fibre) is from 12-25 compared to several thousand for starch. Unlike starches and maltodextrins, which contain only “digestible” α- (1, 4) and α- (1, 6) glucosidic linkages, Dietary Fibre (Dextrin – soluble fibre) also shall contain “indigestible” α- and β- linkages.
Dietary Fibre (Dextrin-soluble fibre) may be used in the food products stated below at GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices). The source of the ingredients (wheat/maize) shall be Non- Genetically Modified (GM).
- Flakes and ready-to-eat dry breakfast cereals
- Noodles and pasta
- Salad dressing or toppings and spreads
- Table top fibre as filler or carrier and cereals
- Other snack food or savouries
- Bakery products including biscuit, cookies, bread, cakes mix and pastries
- Other products where dextrin is allowed under these regulations.
These products shall bear the label declaration as provided in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 201. Provided that in above products if it is intended to make claims
- on source of dietary fibre, it shall not contain less than 3g/100g or 1.5g/100Kcal:
- on high source of dietary fibre, it shall contain not less than 3g/100g or 1.5g/100 kCal and not more than 6g/100g or 3g/100 kCal
Labelling Amendments for Plant Sterol (Phytosterols), Isomaltulose, High Fibre Dextrin
In Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and labelling) Regulations, 2011 the FSSAI has added the following labelling requirements.
Every package of food product containing Isomaltulose shall bear a declaration
Contains Isomaltulose—(calories) |
Every package of flakes and ready to eat dry breakfast cereals, noodles, pasta, salad dressings or toppings and spreads, table top fibre as filler or carrier, cereals and other snack food or savouries and bakery products including biscuits, cookies, bread, cake mix and pastries and other products where dextrin is allowed under these regulations containing added Dietary Fibre (Dextrin-soluble fibre), shall bear the following
Contains Dietary Fibre (Dextrin) —– (Source of soluble Dietary Fibre) |
Fat spread, milk products, milk based fruit drink, fermented milk products, soy and rice drinks, cheese products, yoghurt products, spice sauces, salad dressings, juices and nectars, edible oils, and bakery products containing plant sterol shall contain the following declarations
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FSSAI proposes amendments in the standards of Cereal products including Noodles & for Fortified Foods
Through a notification dated 20 July, 2016 the FSSAI has proposed to make amendments to the standards in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, in the category related to ‘Cereals and Cereal Products.’ The proposed amendments are for products like fortified atta, fortified maida, Durum wheat maida, quinoa, fortified rice, instant noodles, tapioca sago or palm sago and Pearl millet flour. The FSSAI has also invited comments and suggestions from WTO and SPS Committee members within a period of 60 days from the above mentioned date.
Fortified Atta, Fortified Maida and Fortified Rice have been defined as products in which the following nutrients can be added
- Calcium,
- Iron
- Zinc,
- Vitamin A and
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C),
- Thiamine (vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
- Niacin,
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
- Folic acid,
- B-12
- Vitamin D
The FSSAI has proposed different levels of fortifications for these nutrients which will be in milligrams per kilogram of atta, maida or rice. The standards of atta, maida and rice will be the same as already prescribed in the regulations.
Durum Wheat Maida
Since there were no standards for Durum Wheat Maida earlier, the FSSAI proposes to add standards for the new product in the category ‘Maida’ Since this is a new product it will be defined as a product prepared from grains of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) by grinding or milling processes in which the bran and germ are essentially removed and the remainder is comminuted to a suitable degree of fineness. Standards proposed will be as follows
Moisture | Not more than 13.0 per cent |
Total Ash | Not more than 1.75 per cent on dry basis |
Acid insoluble ash in dilute HCL | Not more than 0.15 per cent on dry basis |
Protein | Not less than 11.0 percent on dry basis |
Alcoholic Acidity | Not more than 0.12 per cent |
Particle Size | Min 80% shall pass through a 315 micron silk gauze or man-made textile sieve |
Quinoa
FSSAI has proposes another change in the sub- regulation dealing with the category related to “Food Grains” where it proposes to add a new product called Quinoa. This product consists of dried matured grains obtained from the plants of Chenopodium
quinoa from which Saponins have been removed by washing, scouring, dehulling or
by any other suitable process. Proposed standards are as follows
Moisture | Not more than 12.0 per cent |
Extraneous Matter | Not more than 1 percent by weight |
Other edible grains | Not more than 0.5 per cent |
Damaged grain | Not more than 3.0 per cent |
Uric acid | Not more than 100 mg/kg |
Saponin Content | Not more than 0.1 per cent) |
Instant Noodles
In the sub-regulation dealing with “Macaroni Products” the FSSAI proposes to now add standards for Instant Noodles. According to the definition Instant noodles does not include the seasoning. It can be prepared from cereals like wheat flour and/or rice flour and/or flour of any other cereals, millets and legumes covered under “Cereals and Cereal products” and water as the main ingredient. It can have additives like starches, dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, edible protein and egg Powder may be added. It is characterized by the use of pregelatinization process and dehydration either by frying in any oil or fat prescribed in the regulations. The product should be presented as Fried noodles or Non-fried noodles.Standards proposed are as follows
Fried Noodles | Non-fried Noodles | |
Moisture | Not more than 10.0 percent | Not more than 13.0 percent. |
Acid insoluble ash(on dry basis ) | Not more than 0.3 percent | Not more than 0.3 percent |
Acid Value | Not more than 2.0 | — |
Tapioca Sago or Palm Sago
In sub-regulation relating to “STARCHY FOODS” the FSSAI has proposed that the name SAGO be replaced with Tapioca Sago or Palm Sago. This is a product made from the starch obtained either from Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu and M.rumphii) or tubers of tapioca (Manihot esculenta crantz syn. Utilissima) and will be free from all kinds of adulterants including bleaching, whitening agents or optical whiteners, sweetening agents or any other adulterant.
Standards proposed will be as follows
Moisture | Not more than 11.0 per cent |
Total Ash (on dry basis) | Not more than 0.40 per cent |
Acid insoluble ash (on dry basis) | Not more than 0.10 per cent |
Starch (on dry basis) | Not less than 98.0 per cent |
Protein (on dry basis) | Not more than 0.3 per cent |
Crude fibre (on dry basis) | Not more than 0.20 per cent |
pH of aqueous extract | 4.5 to 7.0 |
Colour of gelatinized alkaline paste in the porcelain cuvette on the lovibond scale not deeper than | 0.4R+1.5Y |
Sulphur Dioxide content | Not more than 100 ppm |
Pearl Millet Flour
In the category of bakery products under ‘Cereals and Cereal Products’ new product is proposed to be included by FSSAI called Pearl Millet Flour. Definition for Pearl Millet flour is that it will be a product obtained from pearl millet grains (Pennisetum americanum L.) through a process of milling. Prosed standards for this is as follows
Moisture | Not more than 13.0 per cent |
Total Ash | 0.8 to 1.0 per cent on dry basis |
Protein (N×5.7) | Not less than 8.0 per cent on dry basis |
Fat | Not more than 6.0 per cent |
Crude Fibre | Not more than 1.5 per cent on dry basis |
Particle Size | Shall pass through 1mm sieve |