Govt cracks down on substandard supplements: Min

The government has begun to crack down on substandard nutraceuticals and health supplements sold in market, said Union minister of health and family welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya, in a written reply in parliament on Friday, adding that since its effort began in March, one in six of the samples tested across the country were found to be substandard.

- Rhythma Kaul

Nutraceuticals, also known as functional foods, are largely nutritional supplements available in several forms such as pills, syrups, capsules, powders, gummies, chewables etc.

The country's food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), directed food safety commissioners to carry out special enforcement drives for various nutraceutical and health supplement products sold in Indian markets, the minister added.