Beer may come under food regulator lens

New Delhi: The Food Safety Standards Authority of India will come up with a draft notification on the standards of alcoholic beverages in next two months. After cracking down on noodles and milk, the Central food safety watchdog FSSAI is now turning to alcoholic beverages with plans to set up standards for drinks including beer and whiskey.

“Work is going on to prepare standards for alcohol and alcoholic beverages, in next two months the FSSAI will come up with draft notification seeking comments from the public,” a senior official said. Among the drinks, whiskey, vodka, gin, beer and even breezer will come under the proposed standards, the official said.

Earlier this year, a meeting of the Central Advisory Committee had also discussed having standards for alcohol and alcoholic beverages. It was decided that once standards for alcohol and alcoholic beverages were finalised it shall be intimated to all States and UTs so that they may suitably advise the respective excise departments.

In terms of packaging, FSSAI has already proposed that alcoholic beverages, pan masala and supari may not be treated as “unsafe food” for recall just because they carry a mandatory warning on their covers. It is mentioned on pan masala, supari and liquor that their consumption is injurious to health.