New Delhi : The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has stated that vitamins and minerals can be added to any standardised product upto ‘one RDA’ but mere addition of vitamins and minerals does not qualify the product for a proprietary food category.
Food businesses involved in such practices were also asked to modify their licences under the standardised food product category by December 31, 2022.
“It is clarified that vitamins and minerals may be added, up to one RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), to any standardised food product listed under Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. However, it is also clarified that mere addition of vitamins and minerals to a standardised food product doesn’t qualify the resultant product as a proprietary food and that such product shall be licensed as standardised food only,” reads the direction issued by the FSSAI.
FSSAI had received representations from industry associations seeking clarification on addition of vitamins and minerals in standardised food products where such addition is not explicitly stated under the FSS Regulations while presently such standardised foods with added minerals and vitamins are categorised as proprietary foods.
The FSSAI has asked such food businesses to modify their licences that are currently having proprietary food licences and manufacturing standardised food products with added minerals and vitamins.
“Taking cognizance of the fact that licences have been issued to food businesses for manufacturing standardised food products with added vitamins and minerals under proprietary food category, it has been decided to allow such food business operators to use existing pre-printed packaging for such categories and modify their licence under the respective standardised food product category by 31st December 2022,” reads the direction.
