Food & Beverage News

Form B blunders: FSSAI in urgent need of legal advisor
Form B issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for obtaining the state and the Central licenses have a number of technical lapses which has made issuing of the licence a Herculean task for the licensing authorities.

Avoiding wastage will bring self-sufficiency: Thomas
Few chapters on food wastage could soon be included in the syllabus of educational institutions. K V Thomas, minister of state for agriculture (independent charge), consumer affairs, food & public distribution, has written to state education ministers for including food wastage as a topic in the syllabus of school and college going students.

“Food parks, cold chains, abattoirs to drive investments”
End of a Plan period is usually a challenging time for bureaucrats as their work comes under scanner for gauging progress made in five years.

NAC man Saxena stresses on need for Food Bill
Reacting to reports on the likely increase in fiscal deficit once the National Food Security Bill was implemented, National Advisory Council member N C Saxena said that the Bill was justified given its importance for achieving social security in the country.

GST effect on F&B unclear: Godrej
Nadir B Godrej, the managing director of Godrej Industries Limited, has said that economic reforms in a huge way are likely once the finance ministry-led Goods and Services Tax (GST) comes into effect from April 2012.

Many state governments, UTs enacted APMC Acts
As agriculture marketing is a state subject, a number of state governments and union territories have enacted legislations (APMC Acts) to provide for regulation of agricultural produce markets. This information was given by Jyotiraditya M Scindia, minister of state for commerce and industry, in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Food Recall – Effective tool to ensure food safety
While Food Recall is a relatively new concept in India, with the FSS Act, 2006, focussing on this vital aspect, awareness is growing and companies are looking at it as a vital link in the supply chain.

"Forum of Indian Food Importers seeks opening of F&B sector"
Though India is one of the largest food producing nations in the world, its international food exports are almost negligible, thanks to mammoth size domestic consumption. However, every now and then, India imports food (under one of the rigid and sturdiest food import norms) to tide over temporary deficiency and domestic market price issues.

Additives and Food Product Innovation
What is common among tasty, colourful Chinese food available on the food cart by the kerbside and delicious mango soufflé set so well without egg? All these ‘substances’ sold or used to get those taste buds tingling are what food scientists call in a rather unattractive way - food additives - that provide a technological function.

“FDI was announced with huge democratic deficit”
There has been a sort of political consensus on FDI for almost all sectors but for likes of multi-brand retail, defence, aviation, banking and insurance. The political consensus has been there for most of the sectors because FDI is seen as a crucial factor to create jobs, bring in new technology and enhance the domestic base of productivity.

Adjudicating Officer is empowered to hold an inquiry
“Legislation and adjudication must follow, and conform to, the progress of society,” so said Abraham Lincoln.

“DGHS manual can be upgraded with new methods”
Laboratories and sample testing is one area which has been stressed upon time and again by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), given the existing low-calibre labs operating in the country.

With new law, FSSAI steps up fight against counterfeit
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) with its August 5-implemented Food Safety and Standards (Packaging & Labelling) Regulation, 2011, has taken yet another step towards fighting the war against counterfeits and educating the consumer about buying the right product through various means, one of which is awareness about packaging and labelling.

ASCI, toothless tiger seeks power in collaboration
The concept of advertising has evolved over the years and has witnessed paradigm shift in recent times. Today advertisements have acquired such importance that there is cut-throat competition to grab the eyeballs by hook or crook.

Trace Solve – unique solution that can ensure Food Act compliance
Wipro, the information technology major, has a unique offering for the food industry - Trace Solve - that ensures enterprise-wide continuous compliance visibility at more than one location in the food industry.

“We are providing enterprise-wide compliance visibility”
Ravi Purohit, GM & global head, food and beverage, Wipro, in a quick conversation with Nandita Vijay talks about the Food Recall procedure in India and the solution offered by his company for the purpose

Chhatariya – Leader in dehydrated onions, garlic products
Gujarat-based Chhatariya Foods Pvt. Ltd is a leading manufacturer of dehydrated onions and garlic like white, red, and pink in Flakes, Kibbled, Minced, Chopped, Granules, and Powder forms as part of its products.

AGAR AGAR - Veg. gelling agent
Marine Chemicals is the largest producer & exporter of Agar in India for the last 25 years suitable for confectionery & dairy products industries, plant tissue culture, dehydrated culture media, microbiology, pharmaceutical, dental castings, and confectionery & dairy products industries.

“FSSA offers easy access, harmonises with global needs”
Tricom Fruit Products Ltd is engaged in processing of mangoes, pomegranates, guavas, papayas, bananas, and gooseberries (Amla) in the form of puree, puree concentrate and frozen clear juice concentrate.

Clearance for imported food items can be on Jap. Model
Delay in obtaining clearance for imported food items is a major problem for the importers, who have time and again tried to bring the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) attention to the issue. This was informed by Pankaj Shah, vice-president, the Bombay Custom House Agents' Association.

Food, Nutraceutical Regulations - Global Snapshot
The regulatory framework governing foods in major jurisdictions is evolving. Food research, product and process innovation and change in consumer behaviour facilitate adaptation of food regulations.

DFRL geared up for India's space leap with healthy & long-lasting food
When the proposed maiden Indian human space flight takes off in a few years, the Mysore-based Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) shall have no difficulty in doling out a wide choice of delicacies for trained Indian astronauts, according to its former scientist Dr D Vijaya Rao.