|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Packaging Regulations for food and beverage industry in India
|
|
Thursday, 17 June, 2021, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Ashwin Bhadri
|
High-quality product packaging is imperative in every industry. However, it’s all the more important in the food industry. The concept of food product packaging in the food industry often stems from safety and security.
Importance of Packaging
• Protects food from physical damage: The integrity of the food product can be compromised by physical damage even if it is properly sealed. Sturdy packaging is important to prevent food items from physical damages caused during shipping, material handling, and warehousing.
• Protects the food from contamination: Food products are at constant risk of contamination from bacteria and pollutants, especially, the ones that undergo storage or shipping for an extended period of time.
• Improves the shelf life of the product: Poor and faulty packaging leads to shorter shelf life which, in turn, results in food health problems.
• Displays crucial information: Product packaging ensures the safety of the consumer by clearly displaying crucial health and safety information on the package.
• Maintains the freshness of the food Items: Modern packaging technology has enabled food business operators to provide fresh food products to the end consumers.
Role of FSSAI in Packaging Regulations for food and beverage industry in India
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to provide science based standards for food handling in every regard. FSSAI monitors their storage, manufacture, sale, distribution and import to ensure availability of secure and wholesome food for human consumption. Its role in food quality is to provide assurance to every consumer.
FSSAI has formulated the measures for food packaging and labelling in order to facilitate easy transport of goods, protect the integrity of food products and ensure that consumers are always aware of what they are consuming.
General Criteria Pertaining to the Container:
Food products packed or stored will be deemed unfit for human consumption if:
• The containers are rusty
• Containers are made of brass or copper that are not properly tinned
• Containers are not securely packed and sealed
• The exterior of the containers have major dents or perforations
• Cans have leaks
• Containers are made of aluminium or plastic that do not conform to the Indian Standards Specification
Product Specific Criteria:
Packaging criteria for Milk and Milk Products
• Filling or bottling of containers with heat-treated milk and milk products must be done mechanically and the sealing of the containers must be done automatically.
• Packaging or wrapping must not be re-used for dairy products, except in case of reusable containers, that are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• Sealing must be done right after filling, in the premises in which the last heat-treatment of liquid milk-base products has been carried out. A sealing device shall be used that ensures the milk’s protection from any adverse effects of external origin on its attributes. Also, the sealing device must be designed in such a way that once the container is opened, the evidence of opening is clear and easy to check.
• Right after packaging, the dairy products must be placed in the rooms provided for storage.
Packaging criteria for Edible oil/ fat
Tin containers used for packaging edible oils and fats shall conform to IS: 10325 or IS: 10339 as amended from time to time. Moreover, tin plates used to manufacture tin containers for packaging edible oils and fats shall conform to B.I.S. Standards No. 1993 or 9025 or 13854 or 13955 as amended from time to time.
Packaging criteria for Fruits and Vegetables Products
• The bottle in which any fruit product is packed must be sealed in such a way that it cannot be opened without tearing down the licensing number and the special identification mark of the manufacturer, which must be displayed on the top or neck of the bottle.
• For canned fruits, vegetables and juices, one must use sanitary top cans made up of suitable kind of tin plates
• For bottled fruits, vegetables and juices, the bottles/ jars must be completely airtight
• Juices, crush, syrups, cordials, squashes, barley waters and other beverages shall be packed in clean bottles and securely sealed. These products when sold frozen must be packed in suitable cartons. Pulps and juices when sulphited shall be packed in wooden barrels
• In case of packing jams, jellies, preserves, and marmalades; new, clean and properly sealed cans, jars, bottles, canisters, aluminium containers or chinaware jars, shall be used
• For pickles, clean jars, bottles, tin containers, wooden casks, covered with polythene lining of 250 gauge from inside, or suitable lacquered cans shall be used.
• For sauces and tomato ketchups, clean bottles shall be used. Open top sanitary cans can also be used If acidity does not exceed 0.5% as acetic acid.
• Dried fruits and vegetables and candied fruits and peels can be packed in paper bags, wooden or cardboard, or suitable jars, tins, bottles.
• Fruits and vegetable items can also be packed in flexible and aseptic packaging material having food grade quality conforming to the BIS standards.
Packaging criteria for Canned Meat Products
• Suitable kinds of tin plates used to make new sanitary top cans must be used. The cans must be lacquered internally; sealed hermetically after filling. Also, the lacquer used must be sulphur resistant and must not be soluble in fat or brine.
• Cans used to fill luncheon meat must be coated internally with edible lard, gelatin, or lined with vegetable parchment paper before filling.
• Meat products sealed hermetically must be processed to resist spoilage under commercial conditions of transport and storage.
Packaging criteria for Drinking Water (Both Packaged and Mineral Water)
It must be packed in clean, colourless, hygienic, transparent and tamper proof bottles/containers made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) conforming to IS : 10151 or polyethylene (PE) conforming to IS:10146 or polypropylene conforming to IS : 10910 or polyalkylene terephthalate (PET and PBT) conforming to IS : 12252 or food grade polycarbonate or sterile glass bottles suitable for preventing possible contamination or adulteration of the water.
All packaging materials of plastic origin must pass the prescribed colour and overall migration migration criteria.
As we can see, being the apex food regulatory body, FSSAI continues to ameliorate the food safety standards in our country. At the end of the day, FSSAI has laid out food packaging regulations (and continues to amend it whenever deemed necessary) in order to protect food products for safe consumption and to ensure consumers can identify the product at all times.
(The author is CEO of Equinox Labs. He can be reached at ashwin@equinoxlab.com)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|