Releasing the findings of a nationwide survey conducted during August 25-27, 2020, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), states that states have been asked to intensify enforcement drive to check adulteration in oils .
It said that ministries of agriculture and food processing industries are being requested to integrate their efforts to eliminate the problem of contaminants through the implementation of good agricultural practices and/or safe handling or processing techniques.
“The results of this survey revealed that 2.42 per cent (108) of the 4,461 samples did not comply with the safety standards, the regulator said in a statement. The presence of aflatoxins, pesticide residues and heavy metals in these was more than the level prescribed by the FSSR.
FSSAI said that in the quality category, around 24.2 per cent (1,080) samples did not comply with the norms.
“Non-compliance with quality standards indicates possible adulteration of edible oils or their blending with other oils or ingredients,” it said.
With regard to quality, another case of non-compliance with the standards was observed that some samples failed to meet the shelf-life norms and prescribed standards of additives, it said.
In the label misbranding category, the FSSAI said that about 572 (12.8 per cent) samples were not complying with the claims of being enriched with nutrients such as the presence of vitamin A and vitamin D.
.