The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the nation’s food regulator, has issued guidelines for the storage and transport of perishable items, which are highly susceptible to microbial growth and spoilage.
It has ordered food business operators engaged in the manufacture, packing, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of perishable food commodities to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines. “Transport only in clean, covered and hygienic vehicles or conveyances suitable for transportation of food. It has also stated that only food-grade packaging should be used, and packing of food in gunny bags and non-food-grade material should be avoided. It has further directed that business owners must protect food items from dust, moisture, pests, physical damage and cross-contamination during storage, loading, unloading and transportation.
Maintain the prescribed temperature conditions throughout storage and transportation,” the regulator said in a circular. “It has been brought to the notice of FSSAI that perishable food commodities such as khoa, paneer, meat, fish, etc., are at times not handled, stored or transported under appropriate temperature conditions,” the advisory added.
