Food Safety and Standards Act can empower consumers - Ujwal Kumar

Food Safety and Standards Act can empower consumers - Ujwal Kumar

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 16, 2012: Addressing the gathering at a training program on Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) of 2006, Ujwal Kumar, the country head of CQM Quality Management Private Limited in New Delhi, said that consumers must become aware of the FSSA as it can empower them.

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) organized this training program on May 16, Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

Explaining the act, Mr. Kumar said that consumers have the right to question any food business and demand samples for testing. They can request the nearest food officer to test the samples. The government will even reward consumers who bring to light cases of food adulteration on the part of food companies. Besides, consumers who lose their health because of contaminated or adulterated food can even claim compensation, he said.

Every stakeholder in the food business, starting from the company that transports food from the farms to the shopkeepers who sell food products, comes under the ambit of this act. They need to possess a license obtained from the designated officer to legally function in the food industry. If they are caught violating food safety and hygiene norms, they can be punished with a huge fine running into lakhs of rupees and imprisonment, he said.

He said that the government seeks to maintain high standards of food safety by implementing this act and will be very strict about checking imported food products.

Catering services also come under the ambit of this act, he added.