FSSAI Hosts Crucial Meeting with Fortified Rice Kernel Manufacturers and Rice Millers in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) held a pivotal meeting today with key stakeholders from the Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) manufacturing sector and rice millers. Chaired by CEO G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, the meeting also featured special guest D.S. Chauhan, Commissioner & Principal Secretary to the Government of Telangana, and prominent officials from the Food Safety and Consumer Affairs departments.

The discussions centered on maintaining stringent quality standards for FRK and ensuring compliance with FSSAI’s fortification regulations. CEO Rao stressed the necessity of third-party audits for all FRK manufacturers, warning that non-compliance would lead to penalties. He highlighted the government’s ongoing fortification program, which aims to address micronutrient deficiencies, such as anemia, across the Indian population.

During the meeting, the national food regulator outlined the mandatory batch-wise testing protocols for FRK and its premixes, reinforcing the importance of ensuring bioavailability in fortified rice. Over 900 companies are currently engaged in FRK manufacturing across India, contributing to the government’s broader efforts to combat malnutrition.

Special Guest D.S. Chauhan raised concerns about challenges in implementing rice fortification, such as contamination, adulteration, and hygiene issues. He praised the high quality of Telangana rice while urging manufacturers to address lapses in compliance. The presence of duplicate products, especially in rice and tea, was also flagged as a growing concern.

RV Karnan, Commissioner of Food Safety, advocated for district-level awareness programs and training sessions on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to address these challenges. He further recommended establishing additional testing labs at strategic locations to ensure timely quality checks on FRK samples.

The meeting fostered open dialogue between FSSAI officials and over 150 stakeholders, including representatives from international organizations like Nutrition International, state officials, and members from the food and agriculture sectors. The interactions focused on issues related to manufacturing practices, quality control, storage, and testing, with FSSAI pledging to resolve the challenges faced by FRK manufacturers and millers.