What Is FSSAI? Here’s All You Need To Know About The Food-Regulatory Body In India

by Tooba Shaikh
What Is FSSAI? Here’s All You Need To Know About The Food-Regulatory Body In India

The 7th of June is celebrated as World Food Safety Day around the globe. Have you ever wondered how the packaged food that you consume is certified safe to eat? Who decides what ingredient is safe to consume and in how much quantity? Well, here’s the answer, at least for India. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India or the FSSAI is the food-regulatory body in the country. Here’s what you need to know about it.

What Is FSSAI: All About The Food-Regulatory Body In India

FSSAI
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The FSSAI is a government organisation that was established fairly recently. On the 5th of September, 2008, the FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. It is tasked with the duty of ensuring that all food products transferred throughout the country are safe to consume.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare oversees the functioning of this particular organisation. The FSSAI is responsible for articulating the guidelines, rules and regulations, and systems for the safety of food. It is also responsible for the enforcement of the same.

Specifying the limits of additives like pollutants, mycotoxins, heavy metal, pharmacologically active ingredients, pesticides, antibiotics and processing aids also comes under the purview of this organisation.

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Responsible For Promoting Food Safety

FSSAI
Image Credits: Canva Images (Representational)

In addition to its task of issuing and enforcing food-safety guidelines, the organisation is also responsible for promoting information and awareness about food safety throughout the country. It is located in four parts of the country, one for each region.

The regional office for the northern part of the country is located in New Delhi. For the southern part, the office is located in Chennai. The western part’s regional office is located in Mumbai and for the eastern part, the regional office is located in Kolkata.

Additionally, The FSSAI also works towards developing and contributing to the technical standards for food in the country. It is constituted of 22 members along with Shri Rajesh Bhushan, IAS, who is the chairperson of this organisation. Shri Ganji Kamala V Rao is the Chief Executive Officer or the CEO of the FSSAI.

Also Read: FSSAI Says Vegetable Oils Or Plant-Based Items Cannot Be Called Ghee Or Butter, It Is Cheating!

Cover Image Credits: Canva Images (Representational)