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FSSAI releases draft stds for chocolate & includes veg oil as additive
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Tuesday, 16 August, 2016, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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fiogf49gjkf0d The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released draft amendments in the standards for chocolate. The new standards include vegetable oil as an additive, which was not allowed earlier.
The new draft said, “The addition of vegetable fats other than cocoa butter shall not exceed five per cent of the finished product after deduction of the total weight of any other added edible foodstuffs, without reducing the minimum contents of cocoa materials.”
The issue related to vegetable oil had become a bone of contention between importers of chocolate and resulted in the shutting down of operations of many chocolate companies in India.
Amit Lohani, convenor, Federation of Indian Food Importers, welcomed the move, stating that it was in alignment with the Codex standards. “In Indian climatic condition, vegetable oil helps keep the texture and flavours of the chocolate. It’s certainly a welcome step by FSSAI,” he added.
It is estimated that over the last two years, companies incurred losses to the tune of approximately Rs 2,000 crore due to the ban on the use of vegetable oil in chocolate.
The draft also prescribed the nature of the vegetable fats permitted for the purpose. It stated, “The vegetable fats, singly or in blends, shall comply with the criteria prescribed by FSSAI.”
“In conformity with the criteria, the following vegetable fats, obtained from plants, may be used: Sal (Shorea robusta), Kokum gurgi (Garcinia indica), mango kernel (Mangifera indica), Barneo tallow (Shorea spp.), palm oil (Elaeise guineensis and Elaeis olifera) and shea (Butyrospermum parkii), a cocoa butter substitute,” the draft added.
“The product may contain Isomaltulose at 50 per cent (maximum) of the total sugars without adversely affecting the stability of the product and the material shall be free from rancidity or off odour, insect and fungus infestation, filth, adulterants and any harmful or injurious matter,” it stated.
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