What Maneka Gandhi has to say about FSSAI workings
When describing permissible food defects, FSSAI uses a term called ‘extraneous matter’. This is defined as “any matter contained in an article of food which may be carried from the raw materials, packaging materials or process systems used for its manufacture or which is added to it, but such matter does not render such article of food unsafe”.
FSSAI does not clearly define permitted contaminants in one handbook or document. It is, however, hidden in the fine print of their numerous rules and regulations. For instance, FSSAI requires deshelled peanuts to only be ‘practically’ free from matter such as stones, dirt, clay etc. Further, 5 per cent of the total packet is permitted to be damaged. 2 per cent of most dry fruits and nuts can permissibly be ‘damaged or discoloured’ which includes damage by insects.
With dry apricots, FSSAI states that they should be free from living insects, but goes on to allow a ‘reasonable’ amount of insect debris, vegetable matter and other objectionable matter. Up to 3 per cent of supari can also be damaged by mould and insects.
A packet of wheat flour (atta) can contain up to 2 per cent ash. Paushtik atta (which means healthy or nourishing) can have a little more ash – 2.75 per cent. Whole grains of wheat, maize, jawar, bajra, rice and most lentils including chana, rajma, moong, masur, urad etc. are permitted 1 per cent extraneous matter, which includes 0.1 per cent impurities of animal origin. These essentials, which every household in our country consumes on a daily basis, is allowed to contain metallic pieces, sand, gravel, dirt, pebbles, stones, lumps of earth, clay, mud and animal faeces and hair.
Sugar, refined sugar, bura and misri are permitted to have 0.1 per cent extraneous matter, while this is permitted up to 2 per cent in the case of jaggery. If you were impressed by this accuracy, honey, on the other hand, only needs to be visually inspected to ensure that it is free from mould, dirt, scum, the fragments of bees and other insects etc.
Similarly, one of India’s favourites – tea – is required by FSSAI to only be free from living insects, moulds, dead insects, insect fragments and rodent contamination which are “visible to the naked eye.”
FSSAI also allows most types of salt and spices, such as jeera, elaichi, laung, dalchini, red chillies, haldi, black pepper, dhania, methi etc., to contain 1-2 per cent extraneous matter. This includes dust, dirt, stones and lumps of earth. One official told me that some years ago, when India needed dals immediately, they imported them from Burma. The dal came full of stones. Instead of making a fuss, the FSAAI checked with their ministry and simply changed the rules to allow more stones.
So the quality of food is decided by corporations and regulatory bodies created to protect them. Who protects the consumer?
As written by her in today’s Statesman newspaper more
FSSAI does not clearly define permitted contaminants in one handbook or document. It is, however, hidden in the fine print of their numerous rules and regulations. For instance, FSSAI requires deshelled peanuts to only be ‘practically’ free from matter such as stones, dirt, clay etc. Further, 5 per cent of the total packet is permitted to be damaged. 2 per cent of most dry fruits and nuts can permissibly be ‘damaged or discoloured’ which includes damage by insects.
With dry apricots, FSSAI states that they should be free from living insects, but goes on to allow a ‘reasonable’ amount of insect debris, vegetable matter and other objectionable matter. Up to 3 per cent of supari can also be damaged by mould and insects.
A packet of wheat flour (atta) can contain up to 2 per cent ash. Paushtik atta (which means healthy or nourishing) can have a little more ash – 2.75 per cent. Whole grains of wheat, maize, jawar, bajra, rice and most lentils including chana, rajma, moong, masur, urad etc. are permitted 1 per cent extraneous matter, which includes 0.1 per cent impurities of animal origin. These essentials, which every household in our country consumes on a daily basis, is allowed to contain metallic pieces, sand, gravel, dirt, pebbles, stones, lumps of earth, clay, mud and animal faeces and hair.
Sugar, refined sugar, bura and misri are permitted to have 0.1 per cent extraneous matter, while this is permitted up to 2 per cent in the case of jaggery. If you were impressed by this accuracy, honey, on the other hand, only needs to be visually inspected to ensure that it is free from mould, dirt, scum, the fragments of bees and other insects etc.
Similarly, one of India’s favourites – tea – is required by FSSAI to only be free from living insects, moulds, dead insects, insect fragments and rodent contamination which are “visible to the naked eye.”
FSSAI also allows most types of salt and spices, such as jeera, elaichi, laung, dalchini, red chillies, haldi, black pepper, dhania, methi etc., to contain 1-2 per cent extraneous matter. This includes dust, dirt, stones and lumps of earth. One official told me that some years ago, when India needed dals immediately, they imported them from Burma. The dal came full of stones. Instead of making a fuss, the FSAAI checked with their ministry and simply changed the rules to allow more stones.
So the quality of food is decided by corporations and regulatory bodies created to protect them. Who protects the consumer?
As written by her in today’s Statesman newspaper more
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Oct 31
Yes, the quality of food is decided by corporates. Regulatory bodies are created to protect them. No one protects the consumer. more
Jun 05
Thanks for a good write up bringing awareness for consumers.The ministry must take note of these comments,and try to redraft the definition of eextraneous elements and revisit WHO ,USA,UK guidelines. I am not very sure about the comments of MrVSMurthy Maddala more
Jun 04
Clearcut indications about guidelines and rules are must. However, we always in FSSAI feel like being indicative. Safety does not go by just indications. more
Jun 04
Dear Madam Sehgal, While I am not aware of any or all of FSSAI, I am firm in my belief that standards, whether of BIS or any other body are made by experts in the field. Even they rely on standards in USA or UK and adopt all suitable clauses before making the specification final. You may perhaps be aware that even Indian Constitution is modeled on UK system with certain clauses borrowed from USA system. Thus, there appears to be bleak chance of anything going absurd and harmful to consumers. If, In spite of such rigorous specifications, food safety is endangered, it is due to over greedy and dishonest citizens, who are producing/trading/ inspecting those products. Please note that Inspection is statistical and not 100%. 2. Not withstanding this explanation, if you feel you have certain suggestions to contribute with your expertise, please put forward them before FSSAI. In case, you wish to elicit public opinion on your suggestions, please place them as resource inviting suggestions. I guess that will be more constructive. more
Jun 03
