Question : Norms for Packaged and Fast Food

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether there has been a surge in the cases of violation of food safety norms by the foreign and Indian food manufacturing companies in packaged and fast food;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of cases registered and action taken during the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the norms set by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India with regard to prescribed food additives and preservatives in packaged and fast food across the country follows the international norms, and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the criteria/stages involved in testing of food items along with the number of certified food testing laboratories and number of new laboratories proposed to be set up as on date, location and State/ UT-wise?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) & (b): Some cases of violation of food safety norms have come to the notice of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Although, no separate data for foreign and Indian companies is maintained centrally by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), as per the information made available by State/UT Governments, the details of samples of food items collected, tested, found not conforming and action taken during the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 are at Annexure-I, II and III respectively.

(c) : Standards for food products are prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products, Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011. Recently, FSSAI has operationalised the standards of food additives for use in various food categories. These standards are harmonised with Codex standards.

(d) : Food samples are tested as per the standards/criteria laid down in Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations made thereunder. As per Section 43(1) of the FSS Act, 2006, FSSAI has a procedure for notification of NABL accredited private laboratories for analysis of food samples. The said procedure for notification of NABL accredited private labs is a dynamic and ongoing process. As of now, there are a total of 198 Food Testing Laboratories which includes 72 laboratories under State/Union Territory Governments; 112 NABL accredited private laboratories notified by FSSAI and 14 Referral Laboratories. A State-wise list of these laboratories is annexed (Annexure IV).