BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI: The food regulator of India, FSSAI, has given the April 30, 2019, date to packaged food companies to ensure that they label ‘atta’ as whole wheat flour and ‘maida’ as refined wheat flour. The FSSAI has also directed the food safety commissioners to ensure that companies are in compliance with this order.

The order has come after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) observed that food business operators were using wheat flour as a general English nomenclature for both atta and maida on food product labels.

With many food business operators — especially in the packaged atta, bread and biscuits sectors — now making health claims regarding their products, this order on labeling will help consumers make informed choices.

The FSSAI noted: “Using the term wheat flour for maida on the label of the food products does not convey the exact nature of the ingredient used for manufacturing various food items to the consumers as well as enforcement officials.”

The FSSAI had received representations from various stakeholders seeking clarity on whether the common name for “maida” in English for labeling purposes should be wheat flour or refined wheat flour.

In its order, the FSSAI said, “Atta should be labelled as whole wheat flour wherever it is used singly or as an ingredient in a food item.”

The food regulator added that maida should be labelled as refined wheat flour wherever the same is used singly or as an ingredient in a product.