In the amended Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) First Amendment Regulations, 2020 dated 18 December 2020, the FSSAI had added sub-regulation (7) under regulation 3 – General Principles, which is as follows
(7) High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) Foods shall be excluded from Fortified Processed Foods category. The definition of HFSS foods shall have the same meaning as specified under the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.”
These amended regulations were to come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette and food business operator were to comply with all the provisions of these regulations with effect from 1st July, 2021.
The FSSAI has now given its clarification in view of the above query from stakeholders and the fact that the HFSS foods have not yet been defined and notified in the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020. The FSSAI has clarified that the compliance to sub-regulation (7) as given above shall come into effect only once the HFSS Foods are defined and notified under the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020.
About Fortified Processed Foods
According to the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) First Amendment Regulations, 2020 Fortified Processed Foods” have been defined as processed foods (i.e., foods that have been altered from its natural state by industrial processing methods) that have undergone the process of fortification as per the provisions of these regulations. The same may have fortified staples as raw materials and/or fortified with permitted micronutrients and additives as specified under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011.”
Fortified Processed Foods may be prepared from fortified food articles that may be cereals and/or milk
The Fortified Processed Food shall provide 15-30% of the Indian adult RDA of micronutrient based on an average calorie intake of 600 kcal from processed foods (approximately 1/3rd of daily energy requirement for an adult).
