GOVERNMENTOF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2659
ANSWER ON – 11.08.2023
MONITORING USE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS AND OVER USAGE OF CHEMICALS
2659 SHRI K.R.N. RAJESH KUMAR:

Will the Minister of Food Processing Industries be pleased to state?

(a) Whether Government is aware that many of the food processing companies are using toxic chemicals  and over using chemicals for preserving food items; 

(b) If so, whether Government is also aware that this overuse of chemicals will lead to health issues; 

(c) If so, whether Government has received any complaints from the consumers and the details of the   health issues reported; 

(d) If so, the steps taken by Government to monitor and restrict the use of toxic chemicals and over usage  of chemicals; and 

(e) If no, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (e): Ministry of Food Processing Industries aims to minimize the post-harvest losses and to increase the extent of processing and preservation capacity while ensuring higher realisation for the farmers. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is mandated for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. FSSAI has prescribed the additives including preservatives along with their permissible limits for use during the manufacturing of food products in the regulation laid down by them namely, the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. No toxic chemicals are permitted to be added in food products during the manufacturing/preserving. Also, the Indian Council of Medical Research has not undertaken any study which demonstrates that overuse of chemicals in preserving food items would lead to health issues.