FSSAI, in a recent move, has directed operationalisation of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2019, in relation to revision of limits of the parameter Refractive Index in the standards of coconut oil that will help monitor its quality.
A draft released in this regard, addresses the issue of Food Business Operators (FBOs) to comply with the present standards of coconut oil for the said parameter and to harmonise with the international standards - Codex.
The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has decided to implement the parameter with immediate effect, though the process regarding draft notification and finalisation will take some time.
The draft proposed, “In the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, under Regulations 2.2, in Sub-Regulation 2.2.1 in Clause (1) for the standards of coconut oil, the parameter Refractive Index at 400C shall be substituted by Refractive Index at 400C: 1.4480-1.4500.”
While commenting on the change, Milind Deshpande, Assistant Commissioner (Food), FDA, Nagpur, Maharashtra, said, “Every edible oil has Refractive Index and saponification values which are characteristics of oils.”
Explaining further, he stated, “It is a characteristic of oil therefore change in RI value will indicate change in composition of oil. Thus, it is an indicator of quality of particular oil.”
Solvent extracted coconut oil and imported coconut oil have to be refined before being used for human consumption.
