Food Businesses Told To Avoid Generic Terms Like “Meat Curry” Or “Non-Veg” On Menus

Srinagar, Aug 18: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has directed all hotels, restaurants, cafes, dhabas, sweet shops, bakeries and caterers to prominently display Food Safety Information Boards and clearly disclose the specific type of meat used in food preparations.

According to an Fssai advisory, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011 and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 place a statutory responsibility on every Food Business Operator to ensure that food offered for sale is safe, properly represented and not misleading to consumers.

Fssai said that under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2018, restaurants are required to display a food safety display board at a prominent place at all times.

The conditions of license also require proprietors of hotels, restaurants and other food establishments selling savouries, sweets or other food articles to display a notice board containing separate lists of food prepared in ghee, edible oil, vanaspati and other edible fats for the information of intending purchasers.

The advisory further stated that every Food Business Operator selling cooked or prepared food shall display a notice board indicating the nature of food articles exposed for sale. All Food Business Operators have been advised to ensure strict compliance along with details of the Fssai License number and customer care number on the Food Safety Information Board at a prominent and conspicuous place within their establishments.

In order to ensure transparency and prevent misleading representation of food, Fssai said every Food Business Operator serving meat or meat products must clearly disclose the specific type of meat used in each preparation such as mutton, beef, chicken, fish or any other meat.

Such disclosure should be made on the menu card, Food Safety Information Board and display counter or menu display, wherever applicable.

The advisory specifically asked businesses to avoid generic descriptions such as “Meat Curry”, “Meat Biryani”, “Meat Kebab” or “Non-Vegetarian” without indicating the type of meat. The information displayed shall be accurate, legible, easily visible to consumers and kept updated at all times.

Fssai has directed all Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers to disseminate the advisory among Food Business Operators under their respective jurisdictions and verify compliance during inspections conducted under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The advisory warned that non-compliance with the applicable provisions of the Act, Rules and Regulations shall attract appropriate action in accordance with law.(GNS)