FSSAI restricts FBOs from manufacturing/selling of ‘cocoa and chocolate products’ and ‘imitation chocolate’ containing steviol glycoside (stevia) as additive in market place or e-commerce platforms till further order

The Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) directed Food Business Operators (“FBOs”) to restrict the manufacturing or selling of ‘cocoa and chocolate products’ and ‘imitation chocolate, chocolate substitute products’ containing ‘steviol glycoside’ (INS 960) in the marketplace or e-commerce platforms till further orders.

Background:

As per the Food Safety Standard (Food Product Standards & Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, the FSSAI has disallowed the use of ‘steviol glycoside’ as an additive in ‘Cocoa and Chocolate products’ (FCS 5.1.3) and ‘imitation chocolate, chocolate substitute products’ (FCS 5.1.4)

Further, as per the Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specific Food and Food Ingredients) Regulation, 2017 (‘Regulation of 2017’), application for approval is considered only for the ‘Food Additives’ that are ‘not listed in Food Safety and Standards Regulation (FSSR)’. Since, ‘steviol glycoside’ is already a permitted additive in other food categories such as Dairy-based drinks, Powder analogues, Dairy based desserts, Edible ices, Canned or bottled (pasteurized) fruit etc., the FBOs cannot seek approval of ‘steviol glycoside’ as ‘Non-Specified Food/Food Ingredient/Food Additive’ under Regulation of 2017.

Hence, as per Food Safety and Standards Regulation (“FSSR”), ‘steviol glycoside’ cannot be used in any such products till any decision in this regard is made by the Authority.

Source : Food Safety and Standards Authority of India