Associated News Bureau

FSSAI Directs Food Businesses to Display Safety Boards, Clearly Identify Meat Types

Srinagar: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed hotels, restaurants, cafes, dhabas, sweet shops, bakeries, caterers and other food business operators to strictly comply with statutory food-safety and consumer-information requirements, including the prominent display of Food Safety Information Boards. The advisory, issued in reference to provisions under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, and applicable regulations, emphasises that food business operators have a statutory responsibility to ensure that food offered for sale is safe, properly represented and not misleading to consumers. According to the advisory, restaurants are required to display a Food Safety Display Board at a prominent location within their premises. Food establishments must also display relevant information, including their FSSAI licence number and customer-care details. The advisory further states that hotels, restaurants and other establishments selling savouries, sweets or other food articles must display separate lists indicating food items prepared using ghee, edible oil, vanaspati and other edible fats, wherever applicable. Food business operators selling cooked or prepared food have also been advised to prominently indicate the nature of the food articles being offered for sale. Clear Disclosure of Meat Types Mandatory In a move aimed at improving transparency and enabling consumers to make informed choices, the advisory directs food businesses serving meat or meat products to clearly specify the type of meat used in each preparation. The disclosure may include specific categories such as mutton, beef, chicken, fish or other applicable meat types and should be made on menu cards, Food Safety Information Boards, display counters or menu displays, wherever applicable. The advisory cautions food businesses against using generic descriptions such as “Meat Curry”, “Meat Biryani”, “Meat Kebab” or “Non-Vegetarian” without specifying the actual type of meat used. The information displayed must be accurate, clearly legible, easily visible to consumers and updated whenever required. The advisory also directs Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers to disseminate the instructions among food business operators within their respective jurisdictions and verify compliance during inspections conducted under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The FSSAI has made it clear that failure to comply with the applicable provisions of the Act, Rules and Regulations may invite appropriate action in accordance with law.