FSSAI asks state food commissioners to test all packaged items

Central food safety regulator FSSAI has asked state food commissioners to inspect and evaluate all packaged products available in markets across the country in the wake of Maggi controversy.

"There are hundreds of packaged food products which are being sold in the country without registration, they need to be inspected and evaluated," a source said.
The directions were given by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to the state food safety commissioners in a meeting earlier this month.

"It has also been suggested during the meeting that the state food safety commissioners should prepare their line of action for the year and collect samples of all the packaged products, even those which are not registered with FSSAI," the source added.

The state officials were also told to take action if required. FSSAI had also handed over a list of 500 products rejected by it as of April 30, 2015 to the state food safety commissioners.

Earlier this month, the FSSAI had banned Nestle's Maggi saying it was 'unsafe and hazardous' after tests found presence of lead and Monosodium glutamate above permissible limits. Nestle had also withdrawn the instant noodles brand from the market.
Following this, FSSAI had ordered testing of noodles, pastas and macaroni brands such as Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai sold and manufactured by seven companies, to check compliance of norms.

In a letter to Commissioners of Food Safety of all States and UTs, FSSAI had asked them to test samples of noodles, pastas and macaroni (with tastemaker) on a set of comprehensive parameters. Cake and masala/tastemaker should be tested separately, the letter said.