Question : CHECKING OF PACKAGED FOOD

(a) the norms and regulations regarding checking of packaged food and soft drinks products in the country;

(b) the companies which have been found violating these norms during the last three years and the current year and the action taken against them;

(c) whether the government has set up any mechanism to track/check imported food items online;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the parameters adopted therefor;

(e) whether the government proposes to regulate hydrogenated fats in packaged food including the imported packaged food; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) & (b) The standards for various food products including soft drinks have been laid down under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA), Rules, 1955. The implementation of the PFA Act, 1954 and PFA Rules, 1955 is done by the State/UT Governments which take action in case of any violation of the PFA Rules, 1955. No data is maintained centrally.

(c) & (d) All food articles imported in the country are governed under Section 5 and 6 of the PFA Act, 1954 and relevant provisions of PFA Rules, 1955, which require that no person shall import into India any article of food in contravention of any of these provisions. Once the product has been imported, it shall conform to the provisions and standard prescribed under the PFA Act & Rules. Similar provision exists in the Food Safety & Standards Act 2006. Feasibility study has been undertaking for IT enabled imported food control system.

(e) & (f) Already, there are provisions under the PFA Rules to regulate the use of hydrogenated fat in any packed food whereby.

(i) There shall be a declaration on the label that “hydrogenated fats or bakery shortening used – Contains trans fat” and

(ii) If a health claim of “trans fat free” is made in such cases the trans fat shall be less than 0.2 gm per serving of food.