Inside BENEO’s new pulse plant: pioneering sustainable protein from faba beans
Dr Veena P. Panicker, Head, Bio Monitoring, Merck Life Science India
As the global community observes World Food Safety Day on June 7, the spotlight turns to the critical role of ensuring that food systems are safe, resilient, and future-ready. In India, the rising demand for clean-label and convenience-based foods—especially within the processed food sector—has made food safety more complex than ever. Traditional Indian foods like pickles and ready-to-eat meals, though culturally significant, present unique challenges in contaminant detection due to their diverse ingredients and intricate formulations. With consumer expectations evolving and the food ingredients market poised for rapid growth, the industry must shift from reactive safety checks to proactive, tech-enabled protocols. This article delves into the multifaceted challenges of microbial and chemical testing in processed foods, and highlights the urgent need for digitised solutions, rapid testing technologies, and regulatory evolution to safeguard public health and elevate trust in the food we consume.—Let me know if you’d like a shorter version or one tailored to a specific publication style.
Today’s consumers expect more than just quality—they demand food that is safe,
transparent, and accountable. With growing health consciousness and a rising preference for
clean-label products, the standards for food safety have reached new heights. For
manufacturers, this means prioritising not only the final product but every stage of the food
production process, from sourcing and storage to processing and packaging.
One vast section of this industry that often goes unnoticed is processed foods. These
products, with their diverse ingredients and intricate formulations, pose unique challenges in
ensuring safety. Products like traditional Indian pickles or ready-to-eat meals bring
complexities in detecting contaminants, where ingredient interference and matrix intricacies
often complicate accurate testing. With the Indian food ingredients market projected to grow
at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%, reaching an estimated value of
approximately USD 1584 million by 2029, the risks of contamination in processed foods are
set to increase. This growth, driven by the rising consumer demand for clean-label products,
underscores the urgent need for enhanced transparency and safety measures.
Addressing these gaps is not just a challenge; it’s an opportunity to innovate and improve
food safety systems for a rapidly evolving market.
Current Complexities in Processed Food
Processed foods often contain a complex mix of diverse ingredients, spices, preservatives,
and additives, which complicate the detection of microbial and chemical contaminants. For
instance, spices commonly used in Indian cuisine, such as cumin and pepper, can mask
microbial growth during testing, potentially leading to inaccurate results. This makes it
difficult to detect harmful pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli, raising concerns about the
effectiveness of existing testing protocols.
Furthermore, traditional microbiological testing methods, while dependable, are timeintensive, often taking 5-10 days to produce results. In today’s fast-paced food industry, such
delays are increasingly becoming impractical. Emerging rapid testing technologies, like
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), offer faster and
more accurate results. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by high
implementation costs, lack of infrastructure, and the expertise needed to utilise these
advanced methods effectively. The presence of other flavourings further complicates the
detection of pathogens, highlighting the need for improved testing protocols.
Let’s discuss key areas that need improvement to enhance food safety across processed food
categories.
Strengthening Food Safety Regulations and Testing Protocols
In India, FSSAI provides guidelines for microbial load monitoring and hygiene standards, laying
a foundational framework for food safety. However, these regulations often lack specificity
when it comes to processed foods, where traditional testing methods may fall short. To
enhance detection accuracy, standardised protocols tailored to complex food matrices are
essential. Additionally, these protocols must incorporate rapid testing methods to enable
faster turnaround times and ensure that products reach the market without unnecessary
delays.
Decentralised testing infrastructure is critical to reducing delays in the testing process.
Laboratories equipped with advanced technologies, located near production facilities, can
minimise the time lost in sample transportation. Mobile testing laboratories, supported by
FSSAI, offer a scalable solution for on-site testing of raw materials and finished products.
As the Indian food export market continues to grow, standardising testing protocols on a
global scale becomes increasingly important. Aligning with international safety standards will
not only boost the global competitiveness of Indian products but also ensure regulatory
compliance. Collaborative efforts with global food safety organisations can help establish
universal testing standards that address the unique challenges posed by processed foods.
Advancements in Microbiological Testing
With consumer demands shifting towards fresh and minimally processed foods, there is an
urgent need for faster testing methods. This is where the integration of advanced
technologies such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Next Generation Sequencing
(NGS) is pivotal in modern microbiological testing. These methods allow for the rapid
identification of pathogens at an unprecedented accuracy level, thereby reducing the time
needed to analyse food safety. However, the adoption of such technologies is not without
hurdles. Significant costs associated with implementing advanced testing systems and the
necessity for skilled personnel present barriers that need to be overcome.
As food manufacturers increasingly turn to third-party testing laboratories to assure
compliance with safety standards, it becomes essential for these labs to keep pace with
technological advancements. However, widespread adoption faces hurdles in infrastructure,
cost, and expertise. Many microbiology labs in India, especially smaller ones, lack the
necessary equipment and skilled personnel, and high-test costs and specialised knowledge
requirements create barriers. Limited infrastructure and a shortage of trained analysts further
restrict the broader use of these advanced testing methods.
Integrating Digital Solutions for Contaminant Detection
Processed food comes in endless variations, from individual ingredients for dishes to readyto-cook meals and convenient ready-to-eat packages. This diverse landscape demands that
regulators have robust data capabilities in place to monitor manufacturing and testing on an
enormous scale effectively.
This makes digitalisation in food testing through advanced Laboratory Information
Management Systems (LIMS) a non-negotiable for modern labs. LIMS can streamline the
testing process, automate data collection, and facilitate faster approvals. This is especially
beneficial for high-throughput labs that handle multiple tests daily. By digitising testing
protocols, food safety labs can maintain data integrity, monitor trends in contamination, and
produce quicker, more reliable results.
As LIMS gains traction, more labs in India and abroad are integrating these systems to
optimise their testing workflows. Not only does this enhance efficiency, but it also aids in
maintaining comprehensive, traceable records that are essential for both regulatory
compliance and internal quality control. Given the scale of India’s processed food market,
scaling the country’s digital capabilities quickly is essential.
Conclusion
As India’s processed food sector grows, so does the complexity of ensuring its safety. By
investing in technology, refining protocols, and fostering collaborative efforts, the industry
can navigate these challenges. The key is to remain optimistic, envisioning a future where
rapid, accurate, and standardised testing transforms food safety, ensuring every bite is safe
and satisfying.