FOOD PRODUCTS

Lupin, Eugia recall products from US market: USFDA

Drugmakers Lupin and Aurobindo Pharma are recalling products from the American market due to manufacturing issues, as reported by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc, a US-based unit of Lupin, is specifically recalling 3,552 bottles of Cefixime for Oral Suspension (USP 200 mg/5 mL) because of "failed content uniformity specifications."

FSSAI to take action against spice makers after Rajasthan finds some MDH, Everest products unsafe

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is investigating and will take action against several branded spice makers, including MDH and Everest, after health officials in Rajasthan found pesticides and insecticides beyond permissible limits. The state had written to the FSSAI requesting action against several brands of spices due to higher levels of pesticides and insecticides.

Edible oil prices rise 15% in a month

Companies like Adani Wilmar, Emami Agrotech, and Sunvin Group said while disruption in soyabean oil supplies from Argentina and Brazil is driving prices higher, mustard oil prices have risen as National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and Haryana State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (HAFED) have purchased large quantities of mustard seeds.

N Chandrababu Naidu's family's wealth surges Rs 1,225 crore as Heritage Foods shares double in 12 days

Chandrababu Naidu's family's wealth surges with Heritage Foods shares rising over 105%. Naidu's party, Telugu Desam Party, wins big in Andhra Pradesh elections.

Aquaculture overtakes wild fisheries for first time: UN report

Aquaculture now surpasses wild fisheries in aquatic animal production, playing a crucial role in global food needs, according to a UN report. In 2022, aquaculture produced 94.4 million tonnes, 51% of the total and 57 percent of the production destined for human consumption. The report highlights challenges faced by the sector like climate change, pollution, and the need for investment, especially in Africa.

Move on from fafda, paratha and cater to international quality: Food Processing Secy tells industry

Anita Praveen, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, says the time has come to start manufacturing products that appeal to everyone's taste globally.

Food companies can't claim '100% fruit juice': FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated that all food companies immediately stop labeling and advertising reconstituted fruit juices as ‘100% fruit juice’. FSSAI noted that many food businesses have falsely marketed reconstituted fruit juices as ‘100% fruit juice’.

Bikanervala Foods not to hike prices of sweets amid rise in cost of milk

Bikanervala Foods Ltd has decided not to raise prices of sweets, instead opting to absorb the increased milk rates from suppliers Amul and Mother Dairy. The suppliers raised liquid milk prices by Rs 2 per litre, impacting consumers and small sweet shops. Director Manish Aggarwal stated the company will bear the higher milk costs for now but may adjust prices in the future to balance consumer sensitivity and competition.

Milk prices in India on the boil: What’s causing the hikes time and again?

Following India's completion of the monumental 18th Lok Sabha elections, a surge in prices emerged notably in milk and tolls. The nation's top two milk cooperatives, Amul and Mother Dairy, have announced a Rs 2 increase in their milk prices, effective June 3. Consequently, the full cream variants of Mother Dairy and Amul, previously priced at Rs 66 per litre in 2023, will now be priced at Rs 68 per litre.

Mother Dairy, after Amul, hikes milk prices by Rs 2/litre

In a statement, Mother Dairy attributed the price hike to production costs, which it said have been on the rise for over a year.

Amul milk price hiked by Rs 2/litre from today, sparks consumer concerns post elections

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) has announced a Rs 2 per litre price hike for all variants of Amul milk, effective from Monday. The decision was made in response to the rising costs of operation and milk production. Jayen Mehta, Managing Director of GCMMF, confirmed the price increase, noting that the last adjustment was made in February 2023. The hike aims to compensate farmers for their increased production costs.

Mother Dairy increases milk prices by Rs 2 per litre in Delhi-NCR

Mother Dairy raised milk prices by Rs 2 per litre in Delhi-NCR market, following Amul. The price adjustment aims to offset rising production costs post-election, impacting various milk variants and sustainability in dairy farming.

VC funds take a shine to new gen’s D2C brands

Direct-to-customer (D2C) startups founded by scions of traditional business families are raking in venture funding across sectors like food, apparel, and wellness. Investors see these entrepreneurs' deep understanding of the business and connections in the supply chain ecosystems as a recipe for modernising legacy businesses.

Tips to reduce spiciness in food

Label padhega India: A key step to build consumer awareness

Product labelling in India faces several issues - ranging from non-compliance with the regulations, language barriers, misinformation and misleading claims, inconsistent labelling standards, illegible labels, lack of transparency, inadequate enforcement of the labelling regulations and imported goods not meeting the Indian labelling standards.

Plant-based food cos urge FSSAI to ease 'milk' label rules for plant-based dairy alternatives

Sethi called for FSSAI's chief executive officer (CEO) to engage with the industry, exchange ideas and foster collaboration to support startups and product innovation against bigger players. He proposed setting up "Plant Protein Clusters" across states to facilitate collaboration between institutes, startups and the government.

Your go-to snack could pose hidden health risks

A 30-year study published in British Medical Journal highlights the risks associated with high intake of ultra-processed foods, linking it to higher mortality rates. The study emphasizes the importance of following dietary guidelines, such as those from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which promote whole foods for better health outcomes.

Substandard soan papdi lands Patanjali manager, two others in jail for six months

After many hearings, soan papdi of substandard quality would land Lila Dhar Pathak, a businessman, Ajay Joshi, the distributor and Patanjali assistant manager Abhishek Kumar in jail for six months under Section 50 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Additionally, the three were hit with fines of Rs 5,000 (Pathak), Rs 10,000 (Joshi) and Rs 25,000 (Kumar).

Nepal follows HK and Singapore, bans India’s Everest and MDH spices

Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality reported that the ban is due to the suspicion of ethylene oxide contamination. The banned spices include madras curry powder, sambhar mixed masala powder, mixed masala curry powder of MDH, and fish curry masala of Everest. The importers and traders are requested to recall these products from the Nepalese market.

View: Why India struggles to keep its food safe

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India denounced as “false and malicious” news reports that linked the spice scandal to a recent 10-fold relaxation on maximum permissible limits of pesticide residue. The country has the most stringent norms, the regulator said, even though others clearly seem to think otherwise.

Label claims on packaged food could be incorrect & incomplete: ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has cautioned that food labels on packaged items can often mislead consumers, urging them to carefully read information to make informed choices, as stated in the recently issued dietary guidelines. The report highlights that health claims on packaged foods may not always accurately reflect their nutritional content, with some products making incomplete or incorrect claims. For instance, products labeled as 'natural' or 'real fruit' may contain additives or minimal fruit content. Additionally, terms like 'organic' and 'sugar-free' can be misunderstood, leading to misconceptions about their health benefits.

FSSAI pushes for mandatory testing of all spice brands; Spices Board also steps up action

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plans to conduct surveillance on various food items like fortified rice, dairy products, and spices sold in the domestic market. This comes after a probe into alleged violation of norms in branded spices. FSSAI is already taking samples of spices from all brands to check compliance with its norms. The number of samples analyzed by FSSAI has substantially increased over the years, showing efforts to enforce food safety regulations. Non-compliance can lead to penalties under the FSS Act, including fines and imprisonment.

MDH says its products are safe; rejects pesticide allegations

The CFS asked consumers not to buy and traders not to sell MDH's Madras Curry Powder (spice blend for Madras curry), Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder.