House panel to take up food safety issues on July 10

It will deliberate on recent food safety issues in packed food as well as packaging and labeling regulations

A Parliamentary panel is slated to discuss regulation of toxic contents in packaged food on July 10 amid safety concerns over processed food products following the Maggi controversy.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs, headed by JC Divakar Reddy, will deliberate on recent food safety issues in packed food as well as packaging and labeling regulations, among others, sources said.

Senior officials of food safety regulator FSSAI and Secretaries of both Health, and Consumer Affairs Ministries will brief the panel about the controversy and the steps taken on sale of packed sub-standard food products, they said.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Health Ministry, is likely to give a presentation while the Consumer Affairs Ministry will place before the panel concerns of consumers.

Last month, FSSAI had banned Nestle's Maggi, saying it was "unsafe and hazardous" for consumption after finding excessive levels of lead and violation of labeling regulations on taste enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG). Nestle India had recalled Maggi from markets since.

With FSSAI cracking the whip further, HUL withdrew its Knorr Chinese noodles and Indo Nissin, Top Ramen noodles, pending approval from the regulator.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Affairs Ministry has decided to file a complaint with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on the Maggi issue.