• Food Safety Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) order early this month that the Hindi term ‘dahi’ should be used in printed labels of curd packets was revised after it stirred a political and language row in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

• As the order to replace the English word curd with ‘dahi’ was disapproved in some states, the FSSAI said the food business operators (FBOs) may use the term curd along with any other prevalent regional common name in brackets on the label.

• For example, curd (dahi), curd (mosaru), curd (thayir), curd (perugu), curd (zaamut daud), the FSSAI said.

• The order has been revised following various representations received recently on the omission of the term curd from the Standards of Fermented Milk Products and mentioning only the word ‘dahi’.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various Acts and orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various ministries and departments. 

• The FSSAI is a statutory body established under the ministry of health and family welfare.

• FSSAI was created for laying down scientific standards for food articles and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

The main functions of FSSAI include:

• Setting globally benchmarked regulations, standards and guidelines.

• Facilitating compliance through licensing, registration, inspection and improved laboratory network.

• Building capacity of regulatory staff as well as food business operators.

• Driving public health initiatives in the true spirit of convergence.

• Leveraging IEC (Information, Education & Communication) and BCC (behaviour change communication) techniques to build a food safety culture.

• Embracing technology to streamline processes. 

• Forging strategic partnerships to generate and exchange knowledge and best practices.

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