FSSAI to undertake nation-wide campaign from August 1 to 14

IEP Chandigarh

Food Safety & Standards Authority of India has the mandate of ensuring availability of safe and wholesome food to the people of the Country. There have been various instance/complaints reporting sale of adulterated edible oils as well as unauthorized blending of Oils without the mandatory AGMARK license. Further, despite prohibition in place as per the Food Safety & Standards Regulations, cases for sale of loose edible oil have also been reported. 

FSSAI has decided to undertake a nation-wide campaign for a period of two weeks from 01^st August, 2022 to 14^th August, 2022 through the State Food Safety Authorities with the objectives to check adulteration in edible oils, compliance with respect to limits of trans-fatty acids, labeling provisions and mandatory AGMARK license for Multi-Source Edible Oil and enforcement of prohibition on sale of loose edible oils in the Country.

Under this campaign, the State/UTs shall ensure Surveillance sampling (two samples/FSO) through Food Safety Officers in a staggered manner so that the sample base is wide and representative of all the FBO/ brands being sold in the market. The samples shall be drawn from the retail markets and for both packaged and loose edible oil (if any), MSEO and Vanaspati. The following type of parameters will he checked from the samples to check adulteration:

– Test for the presence of Hydrocyanic acid

– Refractive Index

– Test for iodine value,

– Sponification Value

– Polenske value

– Unsaponification mater

– Test for presence of Mineral Oil

– Test for presence of Argemone oil

– Total Polar compounds

– Cloud point

– Flash point

– Test presence of castor Oil

– Test for presence of Olive residue oil in olive oil Bellier test

– Elaidate

– Linoelaidate

All Food Business operators those are into the manufacturing / repackaging of Edible Oil are hereby advised not to indulge in any wrong practices of mixing of any adulterant in oil etc and if they found doing any such illegal practice, strict action will be initiated against them under the provisions of law.