The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on 1st April 2022 has tightened its vigil in terms of compliance with regulatory norms on labelling of coffee and coffee-chicory mixtures.
FSSAI has recently examined the labels of various centrally licensed FBOs (including both large and mid-sized manufacturers) of Coffee-Chicory mixtures for necessary compliances with the related regulatory provisions. It has been found that out of 42 active Coffee-Chicory centrally licensed manufactures, 13 were found compliant and 29 FBOs were non-compliant with the existing labelling provisions of Coffee-Chicory mixtures.
The FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, clearly specifies standards for Coffee and Coffee-Chicory mixtures separately. Every package containing a mixture of coffee and chicory shall declare on its label the percentage content of Coffee and Chicory.
Further, the FSSAI has directed the State Food Safety Departments to ensure necessary compliance of regulatory provisions related to coffee and coffee-chicory mixtures and take timely action against the Food Business Operators (FBOs) who are violating the regulatory provisions in this regard.
