Food & Beverages

The FSSAI has issued a draft notification on packaged food star ratings.

The FSSAI has issued a draft notification on packaged food star ratings.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has released a draft notification on front-of-package labeling, proposing an "Indian Nutrition Rating" (INR) system modeled after the health star rating system. The draught of the modified Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Show) Regulations, 2020, which was made public on Tuesday, mandates packaged food to display the defined format of INR by awarding a rating from 1/2 star (least healthy) to five stars (healthiest).

The service standards for food and beverages (should) be in accordance with the industry's recognized minimum 5-star norms. The deployment of staff and resources must meet the minimal requirements maintained at any of the country's established 5-star hotels/properties. The INR logo should be prominently displayed beside the brand. This is required for all packaged goods, dairy products, and drinks.

This draft will be open for objections and suggestions for 60 days. This practice will be voluntary for up to 48 months from the date of issue of final notification. After that, it will be mandatory for all to follow.

And if you not know about FSSAI, FSSAI has been created for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.