|
 The All India Food Processors` Association (AIFPA) has sent a letter to the Prime Minister of India asking for an intervention regarding `Real difficulties in printing Nutritional Information on the labels of Foods`.
AIFPA has cited in its letter that the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued Notification No. GSR 664(E) wherein declaration of `Nutritional Information` on the label of the processed foods have been made mandatory. It has already come into force with effect from 19th March, 2009.
The letter reads, "Our Association amongst others represents the interests of largely Micro and Small Food Processing Units in the country. We had made several representations to the government agencies emphasising the difficulties in implementing the norms of declaring `Nutritional Information` on the label of the processed food. By and large, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) purchase their raw materials of food grains, horticultural produce, etc. from the mandis where the raw materials brought by different farmers are pooled and auctioned. The `Nutritional Information` of these basic raw materials vary widely from region to region depending upon soil, climatic, varietals and seasonal factors. It is therefore an improbable task to arrive at an exact, uniform `Nutritional Information`."
It added, "Apart from this, the nutritional parameters may undergo change during processing or even on storage of processed food. This would mean that the `Nutritional Information` of processed foods will vary from batch to batch. Therefore food products from each batch will have to be got analysed before declaring them on the label. Even after the products have been packed, `Nutritional Information` may undergo some change during storage. Thus to make accurately stating the `Nutritional Information` of the products is extremely difficult."
The AIFPA letter further added that most MSEs do not have the laboratory testing facilities and they will have to get their products analysed through outside laboratories which are not very many. Such outside testing of processed food products made in small batches becomes a very costly proposition, which the MSEs can ill-afford.
However, if the manufacturer claims any nutritional or health claim on the product they do not qualify for exemptions. The Association therefore feels that in India also, similar provisions should be made for the MSEs.
Additionally, due to the difficulties in stating the exact figures of the `Nutritional Information`, the Association feels that these should be made `Indicative` and not `Punitive` as it may lead to prosecutions if any difference is found on testing of the sample by the inspecting agencies.
|
|
Posted On : 16 Apr 09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Latest Food News | | |
|
|
|
|
Press Release Submission Free |
|
|
|
|
Submit your Press Release related to corporate news, announcements and events absolutely FREE of cost & reach out masses. Learn More... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tags Related to Food |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| More... |
|
|
|
