FSSAI to develop SOP for online food deliveries

In a Central Advisory Committee meeting held recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) asked food safety commissioners of states and union territories to step up their surveillance of warehouses and other facilities used by eCommerce platforms. The food safety regulator is also scheduled to meet with quick commerce platforms this week to flag concerns around food safety violations.

The regulator wants to ensure that standards for food quality and safety are adhered to not only at the food business operators’ end but also in terms of the packaging in which the food is delivered to consumers. 

According to the rules proposed, food delivery personnel must also adopt hygienic practices while making deliveries. Certain safety and hygiene parameters should also be followed in the manner in which the food products are handled during transportation from warehouses to consumers, especially in different kinds of weather conditions.

The food safety regulator will consult with various stakeholders of the supply chain to develop an SOP which will then be evaluated by experts before finalisation.

Recently, there have been concerns raised by certain quarters on the quality and food safety violations by quick commerce and e-commerce players. Some have flagged issues, such as the sale of near-expiry products or failure to display the best before date and expiry date on the packaging of food products sold through quick commerce platforms. Concerns have also been raised regarding quick commerce platforms not maintaining the minimum shelf life of food products.

Source: Agencies