Why in news?
- The limit of trans-fats to be not more than 5% is prescribed under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 for vanaspati, bakery shortenings, bakery and industrial margarine and interesterified vegetable fats/oils.
- A draft notification to limit trans-fat to be not more than 2% by weight of the total oils/fats present in the processed food products was issued on 28.08.2019.
Trans fat
- Trans fat, also called trans-unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids, is a type of unsaturated fat that occurs in small amounts in meat and milk fat.
- Although trans fats are edible, consuming trans fats has been shown to increase the risk of coronary artery disease in part by raising levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, often termed “bad cholesterol”).
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
- The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
- Hence, FSSAI is a Statutory Body
- FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
The main aim of FSSAI is to
- Lay down science-based standards for articles of food
- To regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, import and sale of food
- To facilitate safety of food
Standards framed by FSSAI are prescribed under:
- Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011,
- Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation, 2011
- Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
