Page 7 - FPM June 2025

7 Food Processing News Today FOOD SAFETY June 2025

FSSAI asks States/UTs to take measures Food businesses without registration

for addressing obesity and licence not allowed in UP
is to ensure safe and hygienic
he Uttar Pradesh
n response to the u p c o m p r e h e n s i v e sugar consumption among government extended food, while also putting a stop
Hon'ble Prime Minister's m e a s u r e s , i n c l u d i n g school-going children and Tits campaign to help to unregulated or illegal food
food business operators operations.
Iclarion call for urgent w i d e s p r e a d p u b l i c foster healthier dietary
register themselves and obtain Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
action against obesity and awareness campaigns, to habits from a young age.
The FSSAI emphasized that licences till May 31 and said has issued clear directions that
those without valid documents no food business should be
states are key to the
will not be allowed to operate. allowed to run outside the legal
successful execution of these Initiated in the first week of framework. However, the
public health initiatives. April by the Food Safety and g o v e r n m e n t a l s o
Discussions revolved around Drug Administration (FSDA), acknowledged that "Despite
strategies for states to the campaign aims to bring all legal requirements, many small
enhance their food safety food-related businesses -- from and large food operators are
surveillance, promote the street vendors to large yet to comply with licensing
'Eat Right India' movement, r e s t a u r a n t s a n d f o o d norms." "The campaign is not
a n d e n c o u r a g e t h e manufacturing units -- under only about compliance but also
mandatory food safety public health. Unlicensed food
availability of nutritious and
compliance. businesses pose risks to
safe food options across all
The objective of the campaign consumers and violate legal
segments of society. The
is to ensure that every food p ro v i s i o n s . T h e re fo re ,
Authority reiterated its business operator (FBO) in authorities are ensuring full
reducing oil consumption by effectively address the Prime commitment to providing all both urban and rural areas coverage, from roadside
10%, the Food Safety and Minister's call for a obesity- necessary technical guidance registers and obtains a licence vendors and dhabas to
Standards Authority of India free and healthier nation. and support to states and UTs under the Food Safety and premium restaurants under the
(FSSAI) urged States and UTs A significant point of in their endeavours. Standards Act. The step seeks drive," the government
to step up awareness efforts discussion was the recent The 47th CAC meeting was to guarantee provision of safe emphasised.
and implement concrete directive from the Central attended by over 60 and quality food to the To support the campaign, the
measures to tackle the B o a r d o f S e c o n d a r y participants, including consumers, while also curbing FSDA has launched extensive
unregulated practices in the outreach efforts in all districts.
growing public health Education (CBSE) regarding Commissioners of Food
food sector, the government This includes registration
concern. The matter was the establishment of 'sugar Safety, senior officials from
said in a statement. The camps and mobile food safety
deliberated during the 47th boards' in schools. The FSSAI S t a t e s a n d U T s ,
initiative is aimed at covering teams to guide and help
Central Advisory Committee stressed the need for states representatives from central
all types of food-related businesses through the
(CAC) meeting held on May to actively support and ministries, and stakeholders businesses - from street licensing process. So far,
27th, 2025 in New Delhi. implement this crucial from the food industry, vendors and small eateries to thousands of food businesses
During the extensive initiative in a big way, c o n s u m e r g r o u p s , large restaurants and food have registered during this
deliberations, States and UTs recognizing its potential to agriculture, laboratories, and processing units - under the drive, with many more
were strongly urged to scale significantly curb excessive research organizations. Food Safety and Standards Act. expected to do so before the
The main objective of the drive new deadline expires.

FSSAI reinforces ban on use of calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits

o o d S a f e t y a n d synthetic colours or non- known as 'masala'. As part of this substance poses serious aspects of artificial ripening
Standards Authority of permitted wax. the enforcement drive, health risks and is known to using ethylene gas, including
FIndia (FSSAI) has urged The Commissioners of Food inspection of go-downs and cause mouth ulcers, gastric r e s t r i c t i o n s , c h a m b e r
a l l S ta t e s a n d U n i o n Safety of all States/UTs and storage facilities, particularly irritation and has carcinogenic requirements, handling
Territories to intensify Regional Directors of FSSAI those suspected of using properties. conditions, sources of ethylene
substances like calcium Further, FSSAI has also gas, application protocols,
carbide for ripening may be identified cases where FBOs post-treatment operations,
carried out. The are using ethephon solution to and safety guidelines. FSSAI
presence of calcium carbide artificially ripen bananas and urges all Food Business
on the premises or stored other fruits by dipping them Operators to adhere to these
alongside crates of fruits will directly into the chemical. In SOPs to ensure safe and
be treated as circumstantial this context, the Authority has compliant ripening practices.
evidence against the Food issued a comprehensive FSSAI reiterates that any
Business Operator (FBO), guidance document titled violation of these norms will
potentially leading to "Artificial Ripening of Fruits – attract strict penal action under
prosecution under the Food Ethylene Gas: A Safe Fruit the FSS Act, 2006. The
Safety and Standards (FSS) Act Ripener" The document Authority encourages all
2006. Calcium carbide is clearly states that ethephon stakeholders in the supply
inspections and carry out have been requested to strictly prohibited for the may be used only as a source chain including FBOs and
special enforcement drives to maintain strict vigilance over artificial ripening of fruits for generating ethylene gas consumers to remain vigilant
curb the illegal use of non- fruit markets and mandis, to under the Food Safety and and strictly in accordance with and ensure that only safe and
permitted fruit ripening curb illegal use of fruit Standards (Prohibition and the prescribed Standard legally compliant fruits reach
agents, as well as colouring ripening using agents like Restrictions on Sales) Operating Procedure (SOP). the market to ensure food
and coating of fruits with calcium carbide, commonly Regulations, 2011. The use of This SOP details all critical safety and quality.
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