Question : Food Adulteration

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

(a) the details of the food production companies identified by the Government which are not complying with the norms/ standards prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006;

(b) whether the Government has recently registered cases against the food production companies for giving misleading information, if so the details thereof and the present status in this regard;

(c) the number of incidents of adulteration in food products, inspections/ raids carried out, cases registered, food products found unsuitable for human consumption and the persons convicted during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has requested the State Food Security Commission to ensure the compliance of prescribed regulations/norms for food security and increasing the monitoring of packaged food products and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the further measures being taken to regulate the use of chemicals in the packaged food products and create consumer awareness regarding food products and the details of the steps taken for ensuring compliance of the prescribed regulation/norms by food manufacturing/ processing companies?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 192* FOR 28TH JULY, 2017

(a) Food samples are tested under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 against standards prescribed for a particular food product. These tests are not done company wise but sample wise. Food production company wise details are not maintained by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

(b) FSSAI has initiated action in respect of 38 cases of misleading claims so far, out of which, penalty has been imposed in 7 cases, 19 cases have been dismissed, 1 case has been dismissed with caution to the Food Business Operator, 2 cases are at the review level in FSSAI, 1 case is under filing process, 5 cases are pending with Adjudicating Officers and 3 cases are pending in Courts.


(c) As per information made available by States/UTs to FSSAI, numbers of samples of food items received, analysed, found to be adulterated and misbranded and action taken during 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, State/UT wise, are at Annexure I, II and III respectively.

(d) & (e) FSSAI regularly follows up with the State authorities for effective implementation of FSS Act through communications and interaction during the meetings of the Central Advisory Committee which comprises of the Commissioner of Food Safety of all states and UTs. In addition to prescribing standards for packaged food products, FSSAI is creating consumer awareness through publicity campaigns, events, publication, audio visual media and its website. Implementation and enforcement of FSS Act,2006 primarily rests with State/UT Governments. Directions have been issued from time to time to State/UT Governments for effective enforcement activities to ensure the quality and safety of food.