Union minister for food processing industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal has raised the pitch against the working style of FSSAI yet again by stating that the Maggi episode did not leave a good taste and quality of food product should not be a tool to harass the food industry.
While quality of the food product needs to be upheld according to the prescribed norms and standards, the food industry needs to flourish, she said on the sidelines of a programme here recently.
Her remarks were significant as the Bombay High had dismissed the ban imposed by the apex food regulator on Maggi. Further, after the court order, the testing of Maggi samples, done in prescribed labs, cleared the product and Nestle worked on freshly relaunching the product.
On the question of food industry's role in food safety, Badal said, “While the industry is given a free hand to blossom and grow, there have to be regular checks and transparent systems in place, which they have to adhere to. If anybody is not adhering to them, they must be taken to task.”
Replying to a question on whether settling of Maggi noodles issue by the court would boost the industry sentiment, the minister stated, “People should be assured that the packaged food that they are eating is healthy, good for them, and there is nothing which is going to harm them. At the same time, the industry should not be harassed because processing needs to be encouraged.”
The minister stressed on maintaining a balance between assuring quality in products and looking at how these standards would impact the industry.
“Whether we look at how it has impacted the world, our country or the industry, I am very clear that there can’t be any compromise with the health and safety standards of the food that is consumed by our people. That is of paramount importance, both needs to be balanced out,” she said.
Earlier the minister laid emphasis on agriculture and said that it had the potential to play a catalytic role in job creation, reduction of inflation and resolution of food wastage. She stressed that there was no place for food wastage in a country like India and called for strengthening integration between farmers and the industry.
Badal stated that the 42 food parks, which have been proposed to be set up, would help in increasing the contribution of food processing industry, presently at just 10% and in evolving the agriculture sector in India; but would require a secure and assured supply of raw materials and concerted efforts by farmers and industry to leapfrog to the next level.
