Every person across the country remembers the scandal Maggie Noodles faced a few years ago. In a short span of time, the food giant lost even the number of customers. It was during that controversial time that strict laws related to food licensing emerged. FSSAI made their registration and enforcement more stringent in the wake of Maggie’s rampage.
Today, a company registered with the FSSAI is considered a boon to the end user and to the entire food industry. There was a drastic change in the outdated laws and regulations. FSSAI improved the rules and made the consumer much safer. They made sure that even massive corporations are called out when they make mistakes and put the public’s health at risk.
What is the FSSAI license registry?
Everyone knows that there is a body that watches over our health and safety, but few are aware of its integrity. The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare incorporated a regulatory institution called the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (or FSSAI). The ministry governs the body which has two functions:
- Regulate distributed food
- Monitor food safety
The goal is to keep the public safe at all times. Any company, distributor or manufacturer that wants to work in the food industry must apply for a food license. Registration can be done online or through recognized consultants.
How does the food license benefit the consumer?
Now that the origin of FSSAI is clear, the next step is to understand how the body helps the nation’s citizens. Each of the benefits that the authority grants to the consumer is set out below. Although the focus here is on the end user, the benefits are equally applicable to all food businesses.
The Food Adulteration Prevention Act was recently revised. The changes made in internal policies and laws have made the quality of food in the country much higher than before. FSSAI ensures that all food suppliers in India meet these rigorous standards and that the consumer has access to the best quality. Put succinctly, FSSAI makes the food everyone eats in India safer. They make sure that the client’s health is not affected by negligence in the rules.
- Much needed legal assistance
Supervision is a crucial aspect of any business. As long as there is a superior authority controlling the work and production, quality is maintained. The Food License assumes this responsibility in the food sector. It is the body that guarantees that all safety standards are being met. They conduct regular audits of food quality and license registration status at all food businesses. If any organization does not comply with the established standards, the FSSAI takes legal action against it.
The consequence of not meeting the FSSAI standards can range from temporary closure of the business to permanent closure. In other words, the agency provides the consumer with the necessary legal assistance when a food company is not keeping up with the benchmark. The FSSAI acts on behalf of the client. Instead of the end user keeping an eye on the companies, the regulator does.
Today’s consumer is smart, informed and proactive. They are well aware of the laws and regulations that a food manufacturer must comply with. Before consuming anything, the client:
- You want to know how healthy it is for them
- You need to be aware of the hygiene element.
- Ask the quality level of the food.
In essence, the consumer is taking a step further in the control of everything they consume. This is why recent years have seen controversies over chocolates and noodles. The FSSAI assures the consumer that the product licensed by them is of the highest quality. Any company registered in FSSAI has legitimate food that can be eaten without any problem. Evokes confidence in the buyer.
The FSSAI has kept up with the century and entrenched another value. They give information about the nutritional data of each product. This change was incorporated to follow the latest trend in consumer behavior. Today’s shopper is always opting for a healthier diet. Before consuming, they want to know what is the best option to eat. The FSSAI helps by providing the data directly on the feed. Some of the information printed on product labels are:
- Nutritional value
- Date of Expiry
- Vegetable or non-vegetable
- FSSAI number and license
Mentioning this data provides the tools that the consumer needs to decide if the product is healthy enough for the consumer or not.
The final goal post
The buyer prefers any food product that has the FSSAI logo because it generates a feeling of goodwill. The buyer trusts that supplier of the product and believes that it will be of superior quality, a healthier version and that it will meet all standards.