High Risk Foods
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: BS
Context: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently categorized packaged drinking water and mineral water as “high-risk foods,” intensifying regulatory measures to ensure safety and quality.
• This decision follows the removal of mandatory BIS certification, focusing instead on regular inspections and audits under the FSSAI’s purview.
About High-Risk Food Classification:
• What it is: High-risk foods are those requiring stringent safety protocols due to their potential to impact public health if mishandled.
• Authority: Governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Law Governing: Regulated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Why Classification: To ensure enhanced consumer safety through rigorous testing and monitoring. To replace the dual certification process, streamlining regulatory requirements.
• To ensure enhanced consumer safety through rigorous testing and monitoring.
• To replace the dual certification process, streamlining regulatory requirements.
• Other Products Under High-Risk Category: Dairy products and analogues. Meat, poultry, fish, and seafood. Eggs and egg products. Prepared and fortified foods (e.g., fortified rice kernels). Specialised food products for nutritional uses.
• Dairy products and analogues.
• Meat, poultry, fish, and seafood.
• Eggs and egg products.
• Prepared and fortified foods (e.g., fortified rice kernels).
• Specialised food products for nutritional uses.
• Significance of Classification: Promotes higher safety standards via mandatory inspections and audits. Simplifies industry compliance by eliminating redundancy, such as BIS certification. Increases consumer trust in food safety measures.
• Promotes higher safety standards via mandatory inspections and audits.
• Simplifies industry compliance by eliminating redundancy, such as BIS certification.
• Increases consumer trust in food safety measures.
Insta Links:
• General-risks-associated-with-food-processing
Meta data:
Explore UPSC Current Affairs for 4 December 2024, including GS Paper 3 and GS Paper 2 topics. Learn about High-risk food, FSSAI and more. Gain insights for Prelims, Mains, and Mapping with key linkages and strategies.