FSSAI issued a Notice dated 19th Feb 2021, regarding the instruction to the laboratories for testing of fortified foods.
The Department of Food & Public Distribution (DoFPD) has proposed a centrally sponsored scheme on the supply of fortified rice throughout the various services and schemes in the States and Union Territories (UTs). The scheme will be merged with the current pilot scheme on “Fortification of Rice and its Distribution under Public Distribution System”, which is a flagship scheme by the Government of India to address anaemia and other micronutrient deficiencies in the country.
In this context, the notice states that all NABL accredited and FSSAI laboratories including State food testing laboratories to include the parameters of fortificants/micronutrients in the scope of testing and obtain NABL accreditation at the earliest and apprise the same to FSSAI.
Further, the FSSAI notice states that it is also observed that in a few laboratory reports, the unit used in reporting micro-nutrients varies from one report to the other. It is therefore instructed to all the food testing laboratories to follow the units as specified in Food Safety and Standards Regulations in respect of fortified foods and other food items.
Source: FSSAI
