Page 3 - Food Safety

Nearly 12% of India's tested spice samples fail quality, safety standards

MDH and Everest have said their products are safe for consumption. Their spices are among the most popular in India - the world's biggest exporter, producer and consumer of spices

Railways: Hygiene-related issues up 500% in 2 yrs; complaints per meal down

In light of these complaints, IRCTC has issued 68 showcause notices, and three contracts were cancelled between January 2021 and March 2024

Microplastics in all Indian salt, sugar brands: How much are you consuming?

A test carried out on 10 types of salt and five types of sugar, purchased from online and local markets in India, showed the presence of microplastics in all samples

India issued over 300 notifications since 2020 to promote food safety: Data

India has issued over 300 notifications since January 2020 to promote food safety, protect animals and plant health, and maintain the quality of products in the markets, according to the commerce ministry data. These notifications are issued under Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). Both are allowed under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. TBT and SPS are non-tariff measures (NTMs). SPS is used by countries to set out basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health requirements. On the other hand, TBT deals with voluntary and mandatory standards and procedures to maintain the quality of products in the markets. When these regulations impose an unnecessary burden on trade, then they become non-tariff barriers (NTBs). The data showed that as many as 62 SPS and 247 TBT notifications were issued by India since January 2020. Since the formation of the WTO in 1995, the number of these regulations stood at 330 (SPS) and 434 (TB

World Food Safety Day 2024: Date, history, theme, importance, quotes

On June 7, 2019, World Food Safety Day was first observed. The day aims to highlight the importance of food safety and to promote actions that assists prevention and management of food borne risks

FSSAI asks food biz to remove claim of 100% fruit juice from packet labels

Food regulator FSSAI has asked food business operators to immediately remove claims of 100 per cent fruit juices in advertisements as well as labels on packaged products. According to an official statement, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a "directive mandating all Food Business Operators (FBOs) to remove any claim of '100% fruit juices' from the labels and advertisements of reconstituted fruit juices with an immediate effect. All the FBOs have also been instructed to exhaust all existing pre-printed packaging materials before 1st September 2024. "It has come to the attention of FSSAI that several FBOs have been inaccurately marketing various types of reconstituted fruit juices by claiming them to be 100 per cent fruit juices," the statement said. Upon thorough examination, FSSAI has concluded that, according to the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, there is no provision for making a '100%' claim. "Such claims are

Failed quality test: Patanjali Foods to appeal court order jailing three

A case in this regard was registered in 2021 after reports found the samples did not meet the food safety standards

Spices industry urges immediate action to address food safety concern

Last year, India exported spices to the tune of 1.426 million tonnes valued at approximately $4.2 billion, AISEF said

Trouble mounts for MDH, Everest as New Zealand checks for contamination

Regulators in India have inspected MDH and Everest plants and sent samples for testing after the global scrutiny, though the results have not yet been made public

FSSAI relaxed pesticide norms in April, allowing 10x more residue in spices

Activists had warned against the policy relaxations, pointing to potential health hazards linked to pesticides

Two fall sick after eating at Noida's McDonald's, Theobroma; probe on

FDA immediately took action and visited McDonald's at Noida Sector 18 to collect the samples

US FDA gathering information on Indian spices after alleged contamination

MDH and Everest spices, which are among the most popular names in India and are also sold in Europe, Asia and North America, are also under the Indian regulator's scanner

A weak food chain

Recent controversy points to poor regulation

Everest Fish Curry Masala recalled in Singapore for pesticide concerns

Following a Hong Kong alert, Singapore has recalled Everest's fish curry masala due to high levels of ethylene oxide, a pesticide linked to cancer

Everest denies Hong Kong, Singapore ban; Regulator seeks quality check info

The masala-maker company clarified that only one out of its 60 products have been held for examination in Singapore

FSSAI collects samples of Nestle Cerelac's baby cereals amid sugar row

Regulator says it take 15-20 days to complete the process, responds after news report on consumer goods company

EU flagged cancer-causing chemicals in 527 Indian food products: Report

Recently, MDH and Everest spices have come under scrutiny for allegedly containing traces of ethylene oxide above permissible levels

Supreme Court expands scrutiny to FMCG after Patanjali misleading ads case

Nestle, Bournvita, and MDH have all come under public scrutiny after reports questioning the quality of the consumer goods emerged within the last month

Hong Kong bans sale of Everest, MDH spice mix over ethylene oxide presence

The Centre for Food Safety said there was the presence of ethylene oxide in MDH Group's madras curry powder, sambhar masala powder, and curry powder

PM Modi launches microbiology lab, 17 food testing vehicles for Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually unveiled a new microbiology laboratory and 17 Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) vehicles in Assam, collectively valued at Rs 13.11 crore. In a major step towards enhancing food testing infrastructure across Assam, the laboratory was set up by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in Guwahati. In addition, 17 mobile food testing laboratories, known as FSWs, have been provided to Assam in a stride towards ensuring food safety to the last mile. All these facilities were inaugurated by Modi through virtual mode from an event at Rajkot in Gujarat, an official release said. "The microbiology laboratory will play a pivotal role in safeguarding food safety by detecting various microorganisms, including pathogens in food products," it added. The FSWs, equipped with cutting-edge facilities and expert staff, will not only enhance testing capabilities but also deliver essential training to strengthen food safety practices, the release