Mandatory fortification in India: Regulation set to compel firms to fortify edible oil and milk - FSSAI exclusive
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has revealed plans to make fortification mandatory for edible oil and milk over the next few months, in addition to intensifying its focus on local staples such as rice, wheat and salt.
According to FSSAI Director (Food Fortification Resource Centre/FFRC) Inoshi Sharma, the mandatory regulations will apply to all food and beverage companies dealing in edible oil and milk within India’s organised food sector.
“At present it is not mandatory to fortify these foods, but we will be issuing regulations in about three or four months that will make it compulsory for all edible oil and milk from any manufacturer in the open market to be fortified,” Sharma told FoodNavigator-Asia.
“This applies to all companies within the relevant organized sectors in India, so the big food firms and SMEs alike – but of course if the producer is not part of the organized sector and is just selling milk from the two cows in his backyard, then this will not apply.
The new FSSAI new regulations will allow for higher levels of fortification to be achieved by permitting fortificants to be added up till amounts that will translate to provide between 30% to 50% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).
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