FSSAI orders audit of companies’ trans-fat reduction performance

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India told local food safety officials to focus in particular on large-capacity producers, after the upper trans-fat limit was lowered a year ago to be no more than 5% in interestified vegetable fats, margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Companies were ordered to adhere to the August 2016 notification by the beginning of March, after the deadline for compliance was extended.

Now, FSSAI has written to all state food-safety commissioners to record details on the action taken by companies under their jurisdiction since then, including trans-fat readings and any changes to their processes implemented to change trans-fat levels.

Separately, the regulator has issued a draft notification proposing that spring water be categorised as mineral water.

The draft regulation states: “Spring water shall be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. There  shall be a natural force causing the water to flow to the surface through an orifice.”

Under its terms, spring water should conform to all  mineral water standards, except for total dissolved solids content, which should not be more than 750mg/litre.