Preface
Food is the mainstay of our health, nutrition and ability to work. Therefore, the food we eat should be nutritious and safe. Unsafe food can cause many diseases. You must have read about the problems caused by adulterated and contaminated food in newspapers. This is a big problem all over the world. For example, in 2005, 18 lakh people died due to diseases like diarrhea. In India, according to the 2015-16 survey, more than 9 lakh cases of diarrhea are reported every year in children under 5 years of age. Such diseases are not only fatal but also have a bad impact on business, tourism, employment and economy. Because of this, more attention is being paid to food safety and quality all over the world.
Importance
Food safety and quality are very important in our lives, especially in times of large-scale food production and processing. Earlier, most foods were made and processed at home, so there was not much attention to their purity. But today, due to technology and increasing demand, food products are being produced on a large scale, such as packaged and processed food. It has become important to assess their safety.
Homemade foods vs. processed foods
Earlier spices and oilseeds were processed at home. Now the demand for ground spices, packaged spices and their mixtures has increased in the market. It is important to pay attention to their purity and safety as they are related to public health.
Eating out habits and risks
Due to the fast-changing lifestyle, people are now increasingly preferring to eat out. Commercially prepared foods are prepared several hours in advance, and may spoil if not stored properly. This leads to foodborne illnesses.
Foodborne diseases and global challenges
Today, many new foodborne pathogens are emerging. Half of these have been discovered in the last 25-30 years. An international effort is needed to closely monitor and identify these pathogens.
India needs food security
India has entered into agreements with the World Trade Organization (WTO), which has increased its access to the global market. Therefore, it has become extremely important to maintain the quality of food and check imported food. This requires effective standards and control systems.
Contamination of agricultural products
Pollution of soil, water, and atmosphere and the use of pesticides can introduce harmful substances into food products. Also, chemicals such as preservatives, colors, and flavors are added to packaged foods. These need to be analyzed to ensure that foods are safe and nutritious.
Basic Concepts
Food Security
Food safety means that the food we eat is safe and fit for consumption. To understand this, we need to know how food can be damaged. There are three types of damage: physical hazards, such as wood, stone, hair, or insect debris; chemical hazards, such as pesticides, dyes, preservatives, or other harmful substances; and biological hazards, such as microorganisms or bacteria, which can cause infection or poisoning.
Foodborne diseases and their causes
Infection occurs when bacteria enter the body and grow, such as salmonella. Toxicity occurs when certain bacteria make harmful toxins in a hot or cold environment, such as Staphylococcus.
Challenges to food security
Changing dietary habits and mass production can lead to food spoilage, especially when storage is careless. Also, new pathogens are constantly emerging that must be identified and controlled.
What does food quality mean?
Food quality includes characteristics that affect consumers, such as positive attributes such as color, taste, aroma, and texture. Negative attributes such as spoilage, contamination, and adulteration also come into consideration. Safety is the most important part of food quality, so it is important to adhere to food standards.
Measures to ensure food security
- Pay attention to the quality of raw materials and water.
- Cleanliness of production site and equipment.
- Store food at the proper temperature.
- Follow food health science.
- Serve the food in the right manner.
Food Standards
Effective food standards and control systems are needed to improve food quality, ensure the supply of hygienic and wholesome food and promote trade. There are four levels of food standards:
Company standards: These are created by a company for its own use, usually based on national standards.
National Standards: These are prepared by the National Standards Organisation.
Regional Standards: Legal standardizations for regions with similar geography or climate.
International Standards: These are issued by organizations such as ISO and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).
Food and Standards Regulation in India
Voluntary product certification includes ISI Mark (by BIS) and Agmark. BIS runs the ISI scheme for standardization and certification of consumer goods including food products, while Agmark ensures quality of agricultural products and safety of consumers' health.
To simplify and unify food regulations, the government enacted the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006. Under this, FSSAI was established to set scientific and safe standards for the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food. This Act replaced old laws and introduced modern and integrated regulations based on international standards.
International institutions and agreements related to food standards, quality, research and trade
The Government of India and international organizations have taken several steps to ensure food safety and quality. The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) was implemented in India in 1954, which was amended from time to time. Later, all the regulations were integrated under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Key rules and regulations for food safety
The Fruit and Vegetable Products Order sets standards for the quality of fruits and vegetables. The Meat Food Products Order provides licenses for the processing of meat. The Vegetable Oil Products Order sets standards for vegetable oil and margarine.
International organizations and their role
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) sets international standards to protect consumers and facilitate food trade. India, through the Ministry of Health, is a member. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a non-governmental organization that sets international standards, prominent among them being ISO 9000 for quality management. These standards are voluntary but are helpful in trade and quality assurance. The World Trade Organization (WTO), established in 1995, enforces trade agreements, settles disputes and promotes strict standards of food safety.
Measures to ensure food security
The purpose of food inspection is to ensure that the production, storage, and distribution of food items are in accordance with the prescribed standards. For this, government-appointed food inspectors conduct regular inspections. Analytical capability requires accredited laboratories for food testing, where chemical, biological, and physical analysis is carried out using trained staff and modern equipment.
Food Safety Management Systems
Today food safety and quality is not limited to only pathogens and chemical hazards. It emphasizes the need to control the entire food chain. Three major methods are adopted to ensure food safety and quality:
1. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
GMP is a way to ensure product quality and safety. It ensures that manufacturers follow clean and controlled processes, which reduces the risk of contamination, avoids mislabeling, and prevents consumers from being misled.
2. Best Handling Practices (GHP)
GHP identifies potential hazards throughout the food process, from farm to consumer. It ensures that people handling food follow hygiene and store and transport food properly, reducing the risk of food contamination.
3. Hazard Analysis and Control Point (HACCP)
HACCP is a scientific method of ensuring food safety that analyzes every process, from raw materials to manufacturing, storage and distribution. It helps identify and control hazards, catch problems at every stage of production, and save time and cost. It helps exporters, distributors and producers produce safe products.
FSSAI and Food Safety
In India FSSAI (2006) has made GMP, GHP and HACCP mandatory for food safety. This is important for consumer protection and international trade. Its advantages are: consistent good quality products and increased consumer confidence.
Workspace
The food industry in India contributes 26% of the country's GDP and is one of the fastest growing sectors. Its growth has not only boosted international trade but also increased the responsibility of ensuring food safety and hygiene.
- Food Safety and Standards Act of India (FSSAI), 2006
- This law ensures food safety and nutrition at every level of the food chain.
- Along with consumer protection, it also provides career opportunities and new entrepreneurial options in the food industry.
Career Options in the Food Industry
- Government Jobs: Food Safety Officer, Food Analyst, and positions in regulatory agencies like Agmark and BIS.
- Private sector: Food quality control specialists, quality teams in airline kitchens and industries, and food auditors.
- Self-employment: Start your own food analysis laboratory or consultancy centre and contribute to food safety and hygiene education.
- Education and Training: Teach courses on food science, nutrition, and safety and train students in managing food hazards.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Working in the food industry requires knowledge in areas such as food chemistry and processing, food analysis and quality control, food microbiology, food legislation and standards, and sensory evaluation.
