SRINAGAR: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has urged Food Business Operators (FBOs) engaged in the sale of milk and milk products through temporary or fixed vending machines, kiosks and similar dispensing systems to adopt enhanced measures to ensure food safety, consumer protection and fair-trade practices.
To curb adulteration in milk and milk products across the country, FSSAI has emphasized that strict compliance by dairy manufacturers selling packaged or fresh milk and milk products through manual or automated dispensing systems is crucial for ensuring safety, quality and prescribed standards.
In this regard, FSSAI has issued directives mandating all such dairy units to keep or make available FSSAI-approved/validated rapid test kits at vending or kiosk locations for the basic detection of common adulterants in milk and milk products.
The initiative aims to strengthen food safety, boost consumer confidence, ensure transparency and promote a participatory food safety culture in the country.
The list of FSSAI-approved Rapid Analytical Food Testing (RAFT) kits is available on the FSSAI website (https://www.fssai.gov.in/cms/raft.php).
Further, the concerned dairy units have been directed to display simple instructions on “How to Use the Rapid Test Kit” at vending/kiosk locations. They are also urged to facilitate consumer self-checking by either allowing consumers to use the kits at the kiosk area or keeping the kits available for demonstration by trained staff.
It is further instructed that the testing kits are within the validity period and stored as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. Dairy Units have to monitor and maintain records of the utilization and results of such testing kits.
