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FSSAI amends Food Products Standards relating to Fatty Acids & Dietary Fibre & Labelling for Plant Sterol & Isomaltulose

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JULY 25, 2016 BY LEAVE A COMMENT

FSSAI amends Food Products Standards relating to Fatty Acids & Dietary Fibre & Labelling for Plant Sterol & Isomaltulose

FOODS FOR INFANT NUTRITION

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).

  1. Flakes and ready-to-eat dry breakfast cereals
  2. Noodles and pasta
  3. Salad dressing or toppings and spreads
  4. Table top fibre as filler or carrier and cereals
  5. Other snack food or savouries
  6. Bakery products including biscuit, cookies, bread, cakes mix and pastries
  7. 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

  • Contains Plant Sterol (as Phytosterols) —g/100g or 100ml.
  • Patients on cholesterol lowering medication should use the product under medical supervision
  • May not be nutritionally appropriate for pregnant and lactating women and children under the age of five years.
  • CONSUMPTION OF MORE THAN 3g/DAY,TOTAL OF STEROL, STANOLS, OR COMBINATION THEREOF, SHOULD BE AVOIDED”

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