Food & Beverage News: F&B Specials - Govt restricts use of polyols in food articles, health ministry issues draft notification

The Centre has restricted the use of polyols in foods. Polyols such as Isomalt may be used in certain percentage as per GMP in the food articles like traditional Indian sweets (carbohydrates based and milk products based) Halwa, Mysore Pak, Boondi Ladoo, Jalebi, Khoya Burfi, Peda, Gulab Jamun, Rasogolla and similar milk product based sweet sold by any name, instant sweet meat mixes (pongal mix, gulab jamun mix, jalebi mix), bakery products, jams, jellies and marmalades, edible ices, ice cream, frozen desserts and sweetened yoghurt. Also, Polyols such as Erithritol may be used in the food products like dairy drinks (chocolate and flavoured milk), carbonated beverages, non carbonated water based beverages (non alcoholic), ice cream, yoghurt, pudding, non dairy toppings, bakery mixes, cake, cookies and pastries, ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, chocolate and hard candies.

A draft notification (GSR 43E) has been issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MHFW) recently, which stated that Polydextrose may be used in the food articles like traditional Indian sweets (carbohydrates based and milk products based) Halwa, Mysore Pak, Boondi Ladoo, Jalebi, Khoya Burfi, Peda, Gulab Jamun, Rasogolla and similar milk product based sweet sold by any name, jams, fruit jelly, ice cream, frozen desserts yoghurt, whip toppings, biscuits, cakes, sugar boiled confectionery and lozenges subject to maximum level as per GMP and proper label declaration as provided in the Prevention of Food Adulteration rules, 1955.

The notification also says that acid treated starch may be used in sugar confectionery not exceeding GMP level and Estergum (Glycerol easters of wood resin) may be used in carbonated water not exceeding 100 parts per million.

"Dr K L Gaba, chairman, Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of AIFPA has suggested to invite comments from the members of the TAC as well as chairman of Zones and Chapters. Chapters of AIFPA so as to have a meeting of the members of the TAC in the 3rd week of February 2009 to discuss the issues and concerns raised or come to the notice before comments and suggestions could be sent to the Food Authority before 27.02.2009 on this notification and other notifications issued by the FSSAI," D V Malhan, executive secretary, All India Food Processors' Association, told Food & Beverage News.