FSSAI to set new hygiene guidelines for food joints

Industry bodies and food safety regulator have come together to form a sub-committee to check the foods safety standards at various eating joints in the country, a Business Standard report said.

According to the report, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) formed a sub-group in New Delhi recently to keep an eye on safety standards maintained by eateries. 

A meeting was held by FSSAI, FHRAI and NRAI with hotel companies like Taj and ITC and fast-food companies like Yum!, the report said.

The decision comes after recent episodes of finding insects or works in the food served even at large food chains. For example, a patron recently found a worm in his meal at KFC. 

According to the report, FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said that food safety standards are not necessarily met by eateries around the country. "We wanted to get a sense of what the industry's view was on the subject and whether they were open to the idea of stringent enforcement."

NRAI Secretary-General, Prakul Kumar, said that there has to be different set of hygiene regulations depending on the food joint. "You cannot bundle a dhaba and a fine-dining or casual-dining restaurant together. There will have to be different yardsticks,” he was quoted as saying in the report.

The sub-group is expected to meet in the next three weeks to propose new amendments.