With the food industry anxious about the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s assertion on regulations, Union minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Ram Vilas Paswan, in a recent interaction with the press, has tried to allay the fears of the food industry by saying that the government is in no mood to allow Inspector Raj to takeover once again.
Paswan, while replying to questions from the media on the occasion of launch of a food safety campaign for street food vendors, said that both consumers’ right to healthy & safe food, and flourishing food industry can go hand in hand.
He said, “I can assure from government side that while we’re committed to consumers’ right of quality food and health, we do not want to take such actions that would lead to Inspector Raj or even indication of that can be sensed.”
He tried to convince the food industry that there was no need to worry and added that the matter related to Nestle had played a catalytic role towards food safety. “The companies need to make continuous efforts towards ensuring safe food to all,” he stated.
When asked about the recent proposal by state food ministers with regards to bringing in FSSAI under consumer affairs ministry, Paswan said that FSSAI was an autonomous and independent body and it (whether the apex food regulator came under health ministry or consumer affairs) was a non-issue.
“The problem is not whether FSSAI comes under health ministry or consumer affairs ministry. Consumers’ rights need to be protected along with check on adulteration and production of substandard food,” he said.
"The Maggi issue was an isolated case. There is nothing to fear. Black sheeps are there everywhere. No big company wants to sell substandard food products. One wrong incident does not indicate that the company itself wants to sell substandard products," Paswan told reporters.
“FSSAI is investigating the Maggi issue as it has received complaints against the product and if some complaint about the product comes to FSSAI, it has to be investigated,” he added.
The consumer affairs ministry has also received complaints against Maggi noodles and it is therefore filing a class action suit against Nestle India for the first time. According to consumer affairs ministry, the suo motu case against Nestle by the ministry has been sent for legal vetting.
The minister also observed that there is too much criticism against FSSAI if it takes strict action, while it is blamed if it does not take any measures to curb sale of substandard food products in the market.
