Food regulator may bolster rules against adulteration

NEW DELHI: India's food regulator is planning to crack down on adulterators and is looking to tighten regulations and raise awareness as the share of processed food increases in people's diets, according to officials familiar with the matter

- Rhythma Kaul

"Eating habits have changed over the years. Several new food items and additives have been introduced and there are newer technologies in the food industry, all of which call for updating our regulatory requirements," a government official said, requesting anonymity.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been conducting surprise inspections across the country in recent times to rein in the problem of food adulteration.

"There was a food regulators summit held recently that was another step in this direction, meant to look for ways in which regulators can act to make the whole food safety ecosystem better," the official said.