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Food processing industry to eye on innovation opportunities for traditional foods and Ayurveda Aahara
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Tuesday, 12 December, 2023, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
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Indian food processing sector needs to tap into innovation opportunities for traditional foods and Ayurveda Aahara. This is an untapped sector and would give companies a first mover advantage, according to D B Anantha Narayana, CSO, Ayurvidye Trust, Bengaluru and Chairman of Expert Committee Nutra-FSSAI.
Speaking at the 9th International Food Convention (IFCoN)-AFSTI hosted in the CSIR-CFTRI campus, Mysuru, from December 7 to 10, 2023, Dr Narayana said both Indian and the international food sectors need to look at these innovations. This is so far untapped. Companies foraying into this arena can maximise the first mover advantage. This is also important for startups to develop and scale up such products.
Some of these are infant foods which is a pristine area for growth. The FSSAI has issued Foods For Infant Nutrition Regulations, 2020, which have been enforced from October 1, 2022, and there is immense scope to explore this area, he added.
Noting that there is a huge opportunity for the development of traditional food for infants which can be formulated using rice, rice flour, wheat flour, semolina, pulses and other cereals, spices, dry fruits and vegetables, milk, ghee and eggs.
These can be developed in a ready-to-use or reconstituted with milk, water, curd or any other medium appropriate for infants. The food processor should provide clear instructions to prepare the food.
These can succeed in the market going by the appropriate technologies and packaging formats to retain nutritional, physical and sensorial qualities. However, it is mandatory to ensure that these are prominently labelled as ‘Traditional Food for Infants’.
There are also exhaustive offerings for infant food processing like cooked lentils, cereals, dry fruits, grains mashed to a pasty mass sweetened with sugar or jaggery or honey.
"Even cooked vegetable mashed to pasty form either sweetened or with ghee which can be prepared fresh at home. Also there are ragi and corn malt mixes, semolina or sooji based foods that can be blended with either milk or curd or ghee. All these examples have escaped attention of food sector," said Dr Narayana.
Referring to the highlights of Ayurveda Aahara regulations notified in 2022, he said that these are not intended for administration to infants up to 24 months. "Food Business Operators would need to formulate Ayurveda Aahara in accordance with the categories and requirements specified in Schedule B of the regulations. No vitamins, minerals and amino acids can be added to Ayurveda Aahara. The recipes are as per Granthas-Food basis. Inherent Vitamins, Minerals and Nutrients present can be claimed. Health benefit claims as per the Grantha is permitted," he said.
Some of these for adults could be Methi Ka Laddoo, which contains fenugreek seeds roasted, cooked in jaggery, with little cardamom powder and pepper. The innovations permitted here are adding ginger powder as it is anti-inflammatory, shatavari and jeera or cumin seeds.
In the case of pepper rasam, which is recommended in winter or for conditions like rhinitis, can also be consumed to improve immunity. The processor can consider a change in format from liquid to granules or cubes which could dissolve in hot water.
Indian food processing sector can consider such innovation as it provides it a competitive advantage. Going by India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions, there is a wide-ranging and large raw material base suitable for food processing industries, according to Dr Narayana.
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