FSSAI relaxes norms on fortified rice kernel
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India scraps provisions regarding yeast and mould count and aerobic plate count
image for illustrative purpose
- Move will strengthen fortification programme
- 100% target set for Phase-II achieved by Mar
New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has eased regulation for fortified rice kernel (FRK) by removing the provisions regarding yeast and mould count and aerobic plate count.
The FSSAI had operationalized the draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations on June 23, 2022. It specified that the rice flour used for the preparation of FRK shall be white to off white powder.
Further, it was stipulated that FRK shall be free flowing with a characteristic odor and no off odor. Also, it shall be free from foreign matter.
The rice flour used for the preparation of FRK shall conform to seven parameters. These pertained to the particle size, moisture, acid insoluble ash, alcoholic acidity, uric acid, yeast and mould count, and aerobic plate count.
Now, the last two parameters have been done away with, official sources told Bizz Buzz, adding that the provisions in the draft Amendment Regulations are in the process of final notification, which is likely to take more time. The relaxation has been given to strengthen the national level fortification programme.
The central government claims that it achieved the 100 per cent target set for Phase-II of the fortified rice programme by March 2023. Talking to media persons recently, Food and Public Distribution Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said that about 105 lakh metric tons (LMT) of fortified rice was lifted by Phase-II, including states and Union Territories (UTs) under the public distribution system (PDS).
Besides, about 29 LMT was lifted by states and UTs under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and PM POSHAN in Phase II, making a total of about 134 LMT fortified rice lifted in the FY 2022-23.
Now, under Phase-III, the Department of Food and Public Distribution is geared to complete the coverage of all remaining districts, excluding wheat-consuming ones before the targeted date of March 2024.
