FSSAI Guidelines for Fortified Foods

Fortified foods have micronutrients artificially added in it. This is to increase the nutrition level, which contributes to the health benefits of the consumer. Fortified foods have helped to eradicate nutrient deficiency diseases like rickets and pellagra. These foods can be a part of the healthy, nutrient diet, but the benefits of the foods depend on the age factor of the consumer. The FSSAI routinely provides guidelines for manufacturing and processing of various food products. In this article, we look at the FSSAI guidelines for fortified foods in detail.

FSSAI

FSSAI or Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a regulatory body that governs all aspects of production, manufacturing, distribution, storage and transportation of food and food products. In India, FSSAI registration is mandatory for any business involved in handling food or food products.

Guidelines for Fortified Foods

As per FSSAI, fortified foods are foods that help with the following:

Prevent the risks of deficiency caused by the lack of essential nutrients.
Reduce the inadequate nutritional level in the foods.
Compensation with the required nutrients.
Foods that helps the body maintain and gain health.
Improve the nutritional quality of foods.

Under FSSAI, for food to be termed as a fortified food, it should be based on the scientific evidence of the need of the public.

Standards of Micronutrients

One of the major differentiators of fortified foods is the presence or addition of micronutrients and essential nutrients. While manufacturing fortified foods, the manufacturer should ensure that the amount of micronutrients added in the fortified foods is not lower than the standard minimum level. Also, the manufacturer should ensure that the amount of micronutrients added in the fortified foods does not surpass the standard maximum level.

Quality Assurance

The manufacturer and the packer of the fortified foods should make assurances and evidence to the Food Authority that respective steps have been taken for the manufacturing of these foods. The assurances are as follows:

A food laboratory should give a certificate stating that the particular fortified food is in agreement with rules of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and this certificate.
An updated record and inventories of the fortifications. This should include the source of the nutrients.
The manufacturing and the packing process that happens in different stages are monitored carefully.
Random tests conducted on the fortificants and on the fortified foods.
Technical equipment and processes are regularly audited.
Manufacturing processes of the Food Authority is to be followed.

Packaging and Labelling Requirements for Fortified Foods

The manufacturer must ensure the following standards

The packaging of foods should not affect the nature of the shelf life of the nutrients.
All packages of the foods should have the words “fortified with (name of the fortificant)" and the logo imprinted.
The food packages with Iron contents in them should have the statement “Not recommended for people with Thalassemia and people of low iron diet” imprinted on them.
The manufacturers and packers can make a nutrition claim in accordance with the provisions of the Act, and the rules can be made under the Food Safety and Standard Regulations.