The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued Directions to use the term Wheat Flour/ Whole Wheat Flour/ Refined Wheat Flour as English nomenclature for Atta/Maida on the packaging label of food products by a notification dated 1st February,2019.
Background
The standards for Maida are prescribed in the sub-regulation 2.4.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Food product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 wherein the clause 3 relating to protein rich maida mentions the term “maida (wheat flour)”. However, it has been observed that the Food Business Operators(“FBOs”) are using term Wheat Flour as English nomenclature for Maida on the label of the food products which does not convey the exact nature of ingredient used for manufacturing of various food items to the consumers as well as enforcement officials
The issue was thus clarified through this notification
Clarification:
- Atta must be labelled as Whole Wheat Flour (Atta) wherever the same is used as singly or as ingredient in food items wherever the term Wheat Flour/ Whole Wheat Flour/Refined Flour is used as singly or as ingredient in food items, on the packaging label of food products.
- Maida must be labelled as Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) wherever the same is used as singly or as ingredient in food items.
FBO’s are directed to comply with these requirements by 30″April, 2019.
Source: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
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