The FDA does not have a system to identify the ingredients used in packed food items as vegetarian or non-vegetarian!

If you are buying biscuits, noodles, pasta, pizza, chips, chocolate…Beware !

If you are buying bakery and packed food products such as noodles, pasta, pizza, biscuits, chips, soup, chocolate etc. from the market, check the e-coding on their packets; because, these packets may contain non-vegetarian or health-damaging ingredients despite the green mark on them. The Department of ‘Food and Drug Administration’ has given a shocking information under the Right to Information that no mechanism is available in the Government laboratories of Maharashtra to identify whether the ’emulsifiers’ (a type of fatty substance) used in any of the abovementioned packets or other bakery products are of animal origin or plant origin. Therefore, those who consume pure vegetarian food have no mechanism to ascertain whether the above food items contain animal fats or other harmful ingredients. This is very serious and Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad has demanded that as per the order of the Delhi High Court, the Department of Food and Drug Administration should set up a system to meet the requirements.

In this regard, Adv. Mrunal Vyavahare had applied under RTI to Food and Drug Administration laboratories in Mumbai and Nagpur. The above information has been revealed in the reply received under RTI. Bakery products like biscuits are supposed to be crispy, so some type of fat is added to them. They are called emulsifiers. These emulsifiers could be made from vegetable or animal fats. The E-codes E120, E322, E422, E 471, E542, E631, E901 and E904 on the packets of these food items may contain emulsifiers made from animal fat. In December 2021, a bench of Justices Bipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh, while hearing a plea by ‘Ram Gauraksha Dal’ in the Delhi High Court regarding the presence of animal fat in chips, had made it clear that the description of the ingredients of the food items should be indicated not only through e-coding but also in writing on the wrappers clearly whether it contains plant or animal extracts or the ingredients prepared in the laboratory along with their proportion. This will help people have the choice to choose non-vegetarian or vegetarian food. Despite the clear verdict, it is not being followed. Few days ago, after a controversy had erupted about Nestlé Company’s Maggi being high in lead content, many shocking issues regarding e-coding came to limelight. It was also revealed e-coding is used to mix animal fat or harmful substances in products to make people addicted to a substance. Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad is following up with the Government in this regard. It was decided on behalf of the Parishad that until such time as no change is made in this regard, the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad will continue *fight.

In order to uphold the religious sentiments of Muslims, packed food products are indicated by a sign that they are ‘Halal Certified’. Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, President of the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, expressed his regret that while such parallel non-Government system of certification has been established in the country for the sake of Muslims, the religious sentiments of Hindus, Jains and non-Muslims are not honoured.