There has been a revolutionary change in the domestic food processing industry due to adoption of latest technology and initiatives undertaken by the government have improved food quality standard  Globally, India is one of the major food producers. However, in terms of international food trade, it accounts for less than 1.5%. The reason being, Indian food industry still needs to create necessary infrastructure, expand production facilities and install state-of-the-art-technology to increase capacity and production. However, perhaps the most deterring factor is the (often true) impression of the inability of the Indian food industry to match up to international quality and food safety standards. The food industry needs to take this seriously and move to an international level in maintaining food safety and quality. Lack of proper infrastructure facility has been the biggest bottleneck for the players, who are engaged in the food processing sector. As a result, both investment and exports were affected in the country. The food processing industry, which is heavily dependent on perishable products, requires proper functional cold storage facilities. Currently, huge amount of agricultural produces are being wasted every year due to lack of adequate storage facilities, lack of proper transportation and cold chain facilities. Coupled with this is the lack of proper education training, lack of availability of state-of-the art technologies and equipment, and food laws and regulations that are at par with the global standards.
Govt initiatives
It has been noted that there have been some major breakthroughs in recent years. In 2006, India passed the National Food Safety and Standard Act, which is a landmark legislation aiming to consolidate the various laws related to food security. An IAS officer will be appointed as a food safety commissioner in every district under who qualified food graduates will be appointed as food associates.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has developed the Safe Food Destination (SFD) plan for Delhi ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games. As a result, India’s food quality plans to create a directory that will comprise of all the small and medium-sized eateries in the capital city that provide food which is safe for consumption. The goal is to implement these standards across India to ensure safe food for all consumers at all levels.
In the food processing sector, concerted efforts have been taken and today there are many manufacturers in India who produce superior quality food products. Many responsible and progressive companies have undertaken the initiative and have received ISO and HACCP certifications. This is the first stepping stone towards ensuring better quality and safe food products. However, it is important not to stop here because accomplishing sustainable food quality requires due diligence and continuous improvement. Extensive training is a must and fortunately some companies such as TQS Global, Silikier Labs, URS, Assacom etc are offering very relevant and affordable programmes for food professionals. Many universities and colleges are also stepping up and updating their programmes to offer more food-related degrees.
In today’s world of bio-terrorism, ensuring food safety is a real concern for all of us. We cannot afford to have a laid back attitude on this any more if we need to position India as an important global player in the food processing sector. The scope is immense and opportunities are boundless. A change of attitude, updated food laws, improvement in infrastructure supported by awareness and training is the need of the hour. This will ensure that India can provide an optimum balance of food safety, quality and price and maintain a competitive edge in the world market.
Minni Jaitly, V.P. Technical, Midas Foods India Pvt Ltd, a mid-sized food processing company in Kashipur, Uttarakhand |
