Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (hereinafter referred to as the “Ministry”) released a draft notice calling for suggestions, views, comments, etc., from stakeholders on the draft “Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements and Claims) Regulations, 2017” (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”).
The Ministry vide the said regulations has proposed comprehensive changes in the law to restrict the use of terms like “fresh”, “natural”, “traditional”, “original” and other terms in advertisements for food products.
Such term shall only be used on products which have not been processed in any manner except, which are washed, peeled, chilled, trimmed or cut, or other processing necessary for making the product safe for human consumption without altering its basic characteristics in any manner.
A food containing additives and/or subjected to packaging, storing or any other supply chain processes that control freshness shall not be termed as “freshly stored”, “freshly packed” etc.