The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe, stated on Friday (July 3) that the administration will soon issue a fresh order to tighten enforcement against the sale of prohibited items near schools.
According to a news agency, the Maharashtra FDA will also introduce food standards for educational institutions within the next eight to ten days, which will cover quality, nutrition standards, and dietary recommendations for students.
Mundhe said that, along with the administration, it is also the responsibility of schools to ensure that such prohibited items are not sold within a 500-metre radius of the school and to appeal to parents to sensitise their children not to consume so-called energy drinks by making them aware of the potential health concerns associated with those drinks.
Additionally, assistant commissioner-rank FDA officers have been instructed to participate in teacher training programmes being conducted by the school education department across districts with the aim of educating teachers about food safety regulations and the kinds of food permitted and prohibited on school premises, he said.
‘Energy Drink’ Label No Longer Allowed
Following the order issued on June 30 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Mundhe clarified that companies are no longer allowed to sell their beverages as “energy drinks,” as no such food category exists under the regulator’s classification.
He further said that companies, including PepsiCo and Red Bull, have been informed not to use the term “energy drink” on their products, according to the FSSAI directive that has recently come into effect. Along with this, some 10 to 12 companies have also been notified of the same by the FSSAI.
He explained that such beverages are not recommended for individuals below the age of 18 or pregnant women. However, there is no ban on their sale or consumption.
The minister said that 25 reforms have been recommended by the FDA to strengthen food safety enforcement by tracing adulteration to its source instead of just testing samples and taking action.
He then added that there is no ban on the sale of raw milk, but vendors should comply with all the prescribed norms and regulations. The FDA has introduced laboratory management practices at its three testing facilities to prioritise samples of prohibited food items and milk products.
The test reports for food samples are prepared in less than 14 days, and the department focuses on clearing all pending samples by the first week of August before taking any action based on the findings, the minister said.
(With Inputs from PTI)