Question : VEGETARIAN AND NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD ITEMS

(a) whether the presence of ingredients of animal origin in vegetarian food items have been reported in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year;

(c) whether such adulteration has been recently confirmed by the Andhra Pradesh State Food Laboratory;

(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the action taken against those found guilty;

(e) whether the Government has received requests/demands from various quarters to frame stringent laws for the enforcement of green and red signs for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items and also to bring them under the Consumer Protection Act; and

(f) if so, the details thereof alongwith the action taken thereon?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE(SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) & (b) No such complaint regarding presence of ingredients of animal origin in vegetarian food items have been received in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

(c)&(d) As per the information made available by the State Food Laboratory, Hyderabad, ingredient of animal origin in vegetarian food items has not been reported during 2010 and 2011 in Andhra Pradesh. However, 4 samples of loose ghee were reported to contain animal body fat in the year 2009. It is for the State Government to take action as per provisions of Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954 in cases of violations.

(e) & (f) The rule of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 provides that every package of food shall, inter-alia , specify on its label the symbol of non-vegetarian or vegetarian consisting of a brown colour or green colour filled circle inside the square with brown/green outline, as the case may be . Violation of any provisions of the Rules is punishable under the Prevention of food Adulteration Act, 1954.

The Food (Health) Authorities of the States/ U.Ts., who are responsible for implementation of the P.F.A. Act, 1954 in their respective State/U.T., have been requested to keep a strict vigil on irregularities/violations of rules relating to the labelling of vegetarian or non-vegetarian symbols and to take penal action against the offenders under the provisions of the Act & Rules.