The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a letter temporarily permitting the use of Diatomaceous Earth as a processing aid for filtration of honey. The letter was issued on 2nd September 2020.
By virtue of a letter dated 31st July 2020, the FSSAI had on an earlier occasion clarified that the use of Diatomaceous Earth is not permitted as a processing aid in the manufacture of honey.
However, the FSSAI has now intimated the general public that it is currently examining the issue of the use of Diatomaceous Earth as a processing aid for the filtration of honey. Therefore, pending its decision in this regard, it has issued an interim relaxation to the honey manufacturing industries from its earlier prohibition.
This interim relaxation, therefore, allows the use of Diatomaceous Earth as a processing aid for the filtration of honey. Hence, no such use will result in any enforcement action against Food Business Operators (FBOs) manufacturing honey.
However, the letter categorically states that this relaxation shall not be treated as a relaxation of notified Standards of honey. This includes the requirements of minimum pollen counts and other standards as are notified in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011.
Furthermore, the letter states that the relaxation will also not preclude the Food Safety Officers (FSOs)/ Designated Officers (DOs) from routine sampling, surveillance, enforcement in relation to honey.
